It hammers home, yet again, just how remarkable this woman is. She is white. But her soul is tied to the black man's struggle. In all of my years in journalism, I found no match for her energy, intelligence, ethics and independence. Here is what she wrote:
I dedicate this column to Namibian hero, freedom fighter and friend, Niko Bessinger (1948-2008)
Farewell Mr B
If you were alive today, you would argue with me as you so liked to do, but I will for once have the last word and affirm that you ARE a Namibian hero, whether the official status is conferred on you or not!
In the 33 years I have known you, in your different capacities of Swapo leader, freedom fighter and friend and self-made man, you've always been honest and forthright – at times my foremost critic, yet a staunch supporter of this newspaper and one of my dearest friends.
I, and other founding staff of this newspaper, will never forgot the moral support you gave us in the mid-Eighties when despondency and disillusion, and yes, even fear, would sometimes set in as our offices were firebombed or the staff harassed and detained, and you urged us as journalists to continue to expose the injustices at the hands of the colonial regime and carry on our advocacy for self-determination and independence for our country, and to make the sacrifices that would be necessary to this end.
On numerous occasions over these decades we've laughed and even cried together; we've discussed and even sometimes believed we had the panacea for the problems of Namibia, Africa, yes, even the world! You often held court, as you loved to do, and endlessly entertained friends and acquaintances with stories of those struggle years. We've often argued, and agreed and disagreed as we debated issues, but always remained close as only good friends can. So often too, you were a voice of reason when emotions ran high; a person who was a peacemaker by nature, and you often used your skills in this regard to good effect.
Those who were not in the country during the struggle years cannot know what an inspiration you were to Namibians living under apartheid or even try to measure your personal sacrifice. Until your death you were one of those who represented the real Swapo, the authentic Swapo, and who never lost your sense of humanity or your commitment to a country that you wanted so badly to succeed.
And yes, you were, like all of us, fallible, and had your weaknesses, but never on matters of principle. Stubborness was certainly one of your traits, and I tried fruitlessly to convince you in the past months and even weeks, not to smoke or drink as you battled cancer. But that was part of who you were, and all your friends knew the futility of trying to budge you when you would not be moved!
And yet you never spoke out of turn. Even in your years as a Government Minister and Party functionary, you would never break the confidence of your office, and I knew better than to try to convince you otherwise! And yet I know too that you defended me even when our association may have been a liability to you politically. But you did not 'sell-out' your friends.
You are truly one of the icons of the liberation years, along with others like the Tlhabanellos, the Maxuililis, the Kambangulas, Tjongareros and Shifidis, all of whom are no longer with us, and many of whom remain unsung heroes of the struggle. You nurtured and encouraged the youthful leadership, including the Lubowskis and others, and you inspired and mentored many.
In one of our last long discussions in the weeks before your death, you commented on how different we are to many other African countries, and you expressed the wish that Namibians would accept one another in their diversity and use it as a strength, rather than a weakness, for our future growth and prosperity.
Your voice is silent now, and I bitterly regret that you are no longer with us to continue forward to the road to make Namibia the success story we both wanted it to be. Yet you will live on in the memories of those you leave behind, serving as an inspiration and a guide. You are at peace now, but the struggle is not yet over for those who continue to advocate for a good society, and it is up to Namibians to follow in the example you set.
You always spoke of the child inside you, your guide and your conscience, and the importance of mothers and how they should be held in high regard. Reluctant though I am to accept your passing, especially since you did not get to tell your life story to the world, I'm consoled by the fact that you may at this time already be reunited with your mother again, a hope you often expressed.
I end this letter to you with the words of Khalil Gibran:
Rest in peace my friend."For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its
restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God
unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you
indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall
begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall
you truly dance".
Gwen
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