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Namibian President Sam Nujoma arrives
at the airport in Abuja, Nigeria, January 29, 2005. African Union
leaders are in Nigeria for the African Union summit. (REUTERS/George
Esiri) | |
Namibian President Sam Nujoma has decided to become
a student when he steps down after three terms at the helm of his country.
The 75-year-old will study geology within the science faculty at the
University of Namibia (Unam).
The university's vice-chancellor, Lazarus Hangula, said Mr Nujoma's
decision was a "cause of jubilation" for staff and students alike.
"We welcome him with an open heart," added Mr Hangula.
But in an apparent reference to the president's robust character and
no-nonsense style, Mr Hangula
also said: "His presence on the campus is certainly a challenge to all of
us in many ways."
Mr Nujoma has been chancellor of Unam since 1992. He was recently
re-appointed for another six-year term.
It is unclear whether the rules were bent to allow him a place on the
geology course, as his formal qualifications are reported to be not of the
calibre that would secure a university berth under normal circumstances.
In his 15 years in power, he often said he believed the mountains of
Namibia were full of mineral wealth which had yet to be tapped.
Mr Nujoma took over the leadership of the South West African People's
Organisation (Swapo) in 1962 and launched an armed struggle against South
African rule.
He was elected president of Namibia in an election held in 1990
following independence from South Africa. He was subsequently re-elected
in 1994 and 1999.
Mr Nujoma's retirement package, which makes him far richer than most
students, has raised eyebrows
in some quarters.
He will be paid a generous tax-free pension and receive a furnished
official residence in the capital Windhoek,
as well as having the use of vehicles fuelled and maintained by the
state.
(Agencies) |
納米比亞總統薩姆·努喬馬決定在第三個任期結束后離開政壇，重返校園。
這位現年75歲的老人將前往納米比亞大學自然科學系攻讀地質學。
納米比亞大學副校長拉扎斯·漢古拉說，努喬馬先生所作的決定對全校學生和教職工來說是“令人歡欣鼓舞的”。
“我們真心歡迎他的到來。”漢古拉先生補充說。
但是，當提及總統爽直的性格和嚴肅的行事風格時，漢古拉也說：“從很多方面來看，他出現在校園中對我們所有人來說確實都是一個挑戰。”
努喬馬從1992年起擔任納米比亞大學名譽校長，最近他再次接受了任命，將開始下一個六年的任期。
目前尚不清楚有關規定是否會對他有所傾斜，允許他研修地質學課程，據說努喬馬的正式學歷并沒有達到正常情況下的大學入學要求。
在他15年來的執政生涯中，他常說他相信納米比亞的群山中蘊藏著豐富的礦藏資源，至今尚待開發。
1962年，努喬馬成為西南非洲人民組織的領袖，并發動了擺脫南非統治的武裝斗爭。
1990年，納米比亞從南非分離并宣布獨立，努喬馬在獨立后的大選中被選舉為納米比亞總統。后來他在1994年和1999年兩次連任。
努喬馬的大筆退休金使他比大多數學生都富裕的多，并在某些地方引起了眾人的驚訝。
他將領到豐厚的免稅退休金，并將在首都溫得和克獲得一套家具齊全的官邸，還將享有使用政府出資供養的公車的特權。
（中國日報網站譯） |
Updated: 2005-02-21 10:00