From the poverty-stricken tin houses of Katutura — a sprawling high-density suburb on the outskirts of the Namibian capital Windhoek — to the spacious multiple-storey mansions of low-density suburbs where those who glow from good living live, the name of Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama is being mentioned with admiration.
Moses Magadza sampled the excitement in Namibia:
* ‘I can certainly relate to the ‘Obama Phenomenon’,” a woman who preferred to be identified only as Believer said. ‘This is a man who is set to join the league of political giants. I like what he represents. Boldness. Daring to believe, and make others believe, that ordinary people can make a difference.
Challenging the ‘business-as-usual’ mindset, because quite clearly ‘business’ has never been quite the same since the US went into Iraq. He radiates positive energy, freshness, and an ‘it is happening’ idea. Obama transcends the black-white dichotomy. He represents the unity of humanity. Dare I say it? This is a man who might go down in history as ‘Barack the Great’.”
* Rev Gotthard Gurirab of the Namibia’s Lutheran Church supports Obama because he is kind-hearted and his head ‘does a lot more than keep his ears apart.
He is intelligent, diplomatic and very kind. After Hillary Clinton was financially bruised while campaigning against him, Obama gave her money to get her out of her financial problems. He has also remained very calm in the face of often personal attacks by McCain.”
* James Shilongo, a taxi driver, is excited that a black man is ‘showing that black people can also lead”.
* Obama’s candidacy shows that ‘America is becoming more civilised. Ability is taking precedence over skin colour,” Dr Percy Chimwamurombe said.
* Obama is ‘focused, realistic and very bright”, said Professor Kingo Mchombu. ‘He has not played the race card. I have not heard him promise Africa anything out of the ordinary. I doubt that he will do much for Africa immediately; the US economy is in trouble and he might even cut aid to Africa.”
* For college student Caroline Wildner, ‘Obama just rocks! He is so smart and handsome, like [US actor] Denzel Washington. He looks confident. Once I saw a photograph of him with flowers for his wife. How many men do that? I also heard he stopped campaigning so that he could be at his grandmother’s sickbed. This shows that he is a loving husband and caring grandson.”
* Economist Professor John Odada, who was a close friend of Obama’s father, says he does not miss any of Obama’s speeches on television, ‘even if I have to sit up till very late.
Obama has a clearer and more consistent vision of how to turn around the US economy than McCain, who does not appear to me to be a very well-educated person. Obama is advocating reduced taxes for small businesses and working individuals and increased taxes for big businesses which have been making windfall gains. Obama is looking at both the supply and demand side of the economy.”
* ‘There is money in Obama’s name,” said Nahenu Phillips, an enterprising young Namibian. ‘I print Obama T-shirts and they sell fast. Sometimes people bring their favourite Obama pictures and I print them on T-shirts for them.”
Moses Magadza moved from Zimbabwe to attend the University of Namibia. He lives in Windhoek