Lumumba stirs up hornets nest

WINDHOEK, Sept. 7 – Visiting Kenyan Professor and Director of the School of Law in Kenya, Patrick Lumumba has drawn mixed reactions after he was quoted in a daily newspaper today.

Lumumba appeared in local daily New Era saying:”Namibia should have 100 percent employment,” and that statement alone was enough to stir a hornets nest as readers took to social media and criticized the learned professor.

He made the statement alluding to the fact that Namibia’s small population and its abundant resources should be enough to secure employment for its entire working class.

The result has been mixed reactions from people:

O’Elago Kuume: “This lier represented uhuru kenyata when the high court nullified the election, while he said election was free, fare and credible.”

Ndangi Jefta: “Go and preach your nonsense in Kenya that is fighting because of elections right now, and let us deal with our own problems. Does Kenya even have atleast 80% youth employment? So Tate with a name I cant pronounce, please stay your visit and go back. We don’t need outsiders selling us dreams.”

However, there were also those who regarded his comments as genuine and took it on the chin:

Jerry Shiwiku: “Just imagine that there are more people in Johannesburg then the whole Namibia, more schools in Johannesburg then the whole Namibia and the resources almost the same.”

Unata Bee Metirua: “With our resources 100% employment is possible but with this corruption and greediness Namibia is known for, it remains a dream unless we appoint the Tanzanian president as Dr Hage Geingob 1st adviser and head-hunt Dr Lumumba to lead ACC on 5 yrs contract.”

Lumumba was once the Director of Anti Corruption Commission in Kenya, only to be sacked after just one year by Parliament in August 2011.

In his lecture held in Windhoek yesterday, he criticized African leaders, accusing them of becoming hunters and gatherers who concentrate on gathering cars and houses.

Lumumba once said “if you are not prepared to die do not fight corruption in Africa,” during his tenure at the helm of Kenya’s Anti Corruption Commission. His campaign targeted senior government officials to root out corruption, culminating in now Vice President of Kenya, William Ruto’s forced resignation from cabinet after being charged of benefiting from the illegal sale of government land.

Most recently, he was hired by The National Alliance party (TNA) to defend them in the Supreme Court against a case brought on by opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, only to lose the case as Court ruled in favour of Odinga and ordered a re-run within sixty (60) days. – Robert Maseka