By: Ludorf Iyambo and Justicia Shipena
Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) mobiliser and teacher Abed ‘Bishop’ Hishoono says he finally sees the kindness and motherly love of the First Lady.
This comes after the First Lady, Monica Geingos, instructed her lawyer to release a statement that she forgave Hishoono.
Geingos had sued Hishoono for hurtful social media statements about her. A court ruling in February this year ordered Hishoono to pay Geingos N$250 000 for defamation of character and damage to dignity.
“When I got the news, I had to drink a cup of water to calm my nerves because it came out as a surprise and a shock to know that the First Lady had forgiven me. I am overwhelmed that the first lady has forgiven me. The news has shocked me as much as it excited me,” said Hishoono.
Overflowing with emotions, he expressed that he finally saw that what people talk about the First Lady is not who she is.
“I heard how wonderful a person you are from people after you have made that case against me. Only now do I realise that is true. Now I know you are not what people say you are; I want to thank you very much for that motherly love. When I first reached out to The Villager, I asked: am I a child of this mother? Today I answer myself, I see now I am a child of this mother,” he slowly takes a breath to the shock of the news.
Hishoono had dedicated his June holiday to raising the fund for the lawsuit and said he declared the project done on Thursday.
He also thanked those scrabbling money together for his plea, adding that there is no need to do it anymore.
“I have demolished the fundraising project because it is not necessary anymore. Those who had money to pay for this cause, please use it for other people; they need it more than me because now I am a free man,” Hishoono says out of joy.
Hishoono struggled to pay N$250 000 as per the court order with him stating that ‘maybe I will sell my teeth’ to asking for donations from the public.
At the court, during his closing arguments, Hishoono begged for mercy and informed the court he could not pay the amount asked of him. He also had said it would strain his mental health as he was already struggling with the cost of attending court and was paying off his wedding loan.
However, in compliance with the court order, Hishoono tendered a public and unconditional apology to Geingos on the same day. He also retracted his statements which he admitted were politically motivated. He stated that he profoundly regretted making such statements without any factual foundation.
I FORGIVE YOU – GEINGOS
In a letter by Geingos through her lawyer Sisa Namandje, she said the High Court’s judgment was essential to defamation law in Namibia.
Recent media reports also indicated that Hishoono sought financial assistance from public members to enable him to honour his payment obligations as ordered by the court.
Geingos said she has always made it clear that her decision to institute legal action against Hishoono was not motivated by a desire to make money out of litigation.
“Mine, from the beginning, has always been a resolve to fearlessly and firmly assert, protect and vindicate my rights which were gravely violated by the highly false statements made by Hishoono.”
She expressed that she was convinced that Hishoono has now honestly, sincerely and genuinely indicated that he has wrongfully violated her rights and that of her family.
“I have decided, upon careful consideration, not to enforce and execute the High Court judgment against Hishoono both in respect of the amount of N$250,000-00 that he was ordered to pay as compensation and the recovery of my legal costs of approximately N$400,000-00,” she said.
Geingos said she decided on the condition that Hishoono permanently desists from engaging in slanderous butchery against her family or her.
“Since Mr Hishoono has gone on record stating that he has so far collected an amount of N$20,000-00 1 have directed my legal practitioner to inform him that that amount must be paid to my legal practitioner with immediate effect so that I donate it to a charity organisation of my choice,” she added.
She also said she is alive to the fact that reconciliation is one of the values of constitutional democracy.
“It is within our DNA as Namibians, where appropriate and possible, to forgive one another and reconcile to keep and maintain social unity, cohesion, and peace in our country.”
Moreover, she stated that arrangements are being made to meet with Hishoono.
“I, however, hasten to add that it is possible to forgive a person while holding them accountable. While I had long forgiven Mr Hishoono for his actions, I felt it necessary to hold him accountable through this lawsuit,” emphasised Geingos.
Geingos stated that her decision not to execute the court order would somehow avoid a situation of Hishoono’s family suffer the consequences of his wrongful conduct.
She also hopes Hishoono will become an ambassador for promoting responsible public debate and constructive engagement devoid of primitive and toxic content.
justicia@thevillager.com.na
