Hamutenya Joins Facebook

Toivo Ndjebela

15 June 2011

Windhoek — Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) president Hidipo Hamutenya has signed up for social networking site Facebook and told his cyber friends: “I want to engage you in discussions.”

The former Foreign Affairs Minister, who now serves as the leader of the country’s official opposition party, is the first senior Namibian politician to join the popular social network.

By yesterday noon, Hamutenya already had 520 Facebook friends, many of whom have started posting curious questions on a variety of matters.

First to throw the cat among the pigeons was ardent Facebook user Hobie Clark, who asked the veteran politician: “Will u be another one of those that’ll just gather lots of “friends” but never will say a word or contribute to or start any debate?”

Hamutenya, who is turning 72 this Friday, immediately replied to Clark: “Don’t pre-judge the page, I have only begun. Some of us are old so we are new to social networking and I must get used to it first, so be patient with me. I will make contributions when my time will allow it.”

Clark responded: “(I) didn’t judge your page, Hidipo. I was asking. But it’s good to hear that you’ll participate in debates!”

There is a growing habit for individuals impersonating public figures on Facebook, but when New Era approached Hamutenya to confirm if he is indeed a Facebook subscriber, he nodded in agreement.

“Yes, it is me. I want to engage my Facebook friends in discussions on various subjects and share my experience with them,” he said.

Other notable Namibian politicians signed on Facebook include, Swapo Party Youth Secretary Dr Elijah Ngurare, Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Alpheus Muheua, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Peya Mushelenga and Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture Deputy Minister, Pohamba Shifeta.

Founding President Dr Sam Nujoma, who speaks fondly about science and technology, is also supposedly a Facebook subscriber, but it could not be independently verified if the social networking account really belongs to him.

Listing his favourite athletes, Hamutenya cited Ivory Coast football star Didier Drogba, who plays for English club Chelsea as his favourite.

Drogba’s Chelsea teammate and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien is also listed by the RDP leader as his favourite, so are reigning World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi of Barcelona, Inter Milan’s Cameroonian forward Samuel Eto’o and American boxing legend Muhammed Ali. Like his fellow Namibian politicians on Facebook, Hamutenya could be in for a series of provocations by some of his Facebook ‘friends’, especially supporters of the RDP’s rival parties.

Ngurare is among those who have already been at the receiving end of unprecedented provocations at the hands of Facebook ‘friends’, especially those from opposition ranks.

Already yesterday, a Facebook friend of Hamutenya, registered as Herman Shaanika, posted a “viva Swapo” note on the RDP politician’s Facebook wall.

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