Namibians' mixed reactions to Trump victory JEMIMA BEUKES Local commentators yesterday varied in their responses to the election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States of America.
Namibia’s first ambassador to the US, Tuliameni Kalomoh, said Trump’s victory presented an opportunity for Africa to stand on its own feet.
Kalomoh doubts that the election of Trump would have any policy impact on African countries.
He also said it was highly unlikely that Trump’s election would see the end of humanitarian programmes such as the US President''s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar). Pepfar is a US governmental initiative to address the global HIV/Aids epidemic and help save the lives of those suffering from the disease, primarily in Africa.
“I do not think he would suddenly cut the money or ties with Africa. But I believe that if he decides to cut ties with Africa that Africa needs to regroup and live within its means. Africa cannot forever live on the generosity of others,” said Kalomoh.
Other programmes that Kalomoh believes will continue despite a change of government include Power Africa, which aims at supporting economic growth and development by increasing access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in Africa. Africans also benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) agreement which aims to significantly enhance market access to the US for qualifying sub-Saharan African countries.
Terrorism
In addition, Kalomoh said America needs to continuously cooperate with Africa to provide a buffer against terrorism.
According to him, it would serve the US no good to cut ties at a time when it is severely under threat from terrorist attacks.
“East Africa plays a pivotal role in the struggle against terrorism and we see West Africa fighting against Boko Haram. Terrorism may be based in Africa but its tentacles and influence go beyond Africa,” Kalomoh cautioned.
When asked whether Trump was the kind of person that would support Namibia’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Kalomoh said the US has no standing in the matter since it is not a member of the ICC itself.
“It remains within the sovereign right of Namibia to decide whether to withdraw or not to withdraw,” he said.
‘Anti-Africa’
Political commentator Nico Horn said he cannot imagine that Trump would change his rhetoric about Africa being corrupt.
“I cannot imagine that he can be a good friend of Africa. I think Africa can make itself ready to have some financial aid cut. I doubt it would be possible for him to ignore his campaign speech,” he warned.
According to him, Trump may reconsider his stance but that would only be because he needs Africa and not because he likes Africa.
Horn also said there was no guarantee that Trump would be able to give his supporters all the benefits he promised during his campaign.
Legacy
According to Kalomoh, Barack Obama’s presidency is a vindication that racism has no place in civil lives of communities.
He commended Obama for his support in fighting ISIS and piracy in the Indian Ocean as well as supporting Algeria to confront Al-Shabaab terrorism, but felt that he could have done more in Algeria.
“An indelible legacy would be that of George W Bush who established the Millennium Challenge Account and Pepfar,” said Kalomoh.
Impossible win
A local social commentator who was born in America, Jacqueline Asheeke, said the outcome of the results showed that Americans are tired of being politically correct.
According to her, the fact that Trump won despite being branded a racist and sexist is because the Democrats underestimated the uprising by white men and the American working class.
“I find it amazing that people could identify with a billionaire, it is the biggest calamity of US history, but I think Trump obviously resonates with the working-class family who barely make their mortgages,” she said.
Asheeke added that Trump might not be able to deliver on the promises that he had made during his campaign, such as to restore the country’s former industrial might.