A book, The Art of Persuasion, examines whether or not the Namibian Constitution is merely a document of laws and rights or, at its core, a masterfully engineered power-sharing pact.
 
Former President Nangolo Mbumba, who launched it, described the latest publication by author Dr. Audrin Mathe as a timely chronicle and an epic testament to the power of human reasoning.
 
Dr. Mathe, the current Executive Director in the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations, penned his latest book — an exploration of the 80 days between 21 November 1989 and 09 February 1990 — when 72 members of the constituent assembly convened to draft the Namibian constitution.
 
He explained that the book is not meant to be another legacy commentary or historical account.
 
Rather, it is an attempt to answer how the members of the constituent assembly came together to draft one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, considering the country's past and envisioned future.
 
“My goal was to uncover the political technology and strategic thinking that made the impossible possible. My central argument is this: The Namibian constitution is not merely a document of laws and rights. It is a testament to the victory of persuasion, a question of consensus of a conflict.”
 
Former President Mbumba commented that the book captures the intense human drama, complex political intricacies, and brilliant strategic deliberation that culminated in the nation's founding document.
 
“He takes us into the heart of the debates, revealing the moments of tension, the flashes of inspiration, and the acts of courage that made the impossible possible.”
 
Mbumba further noted that the book reveals that the Namibian miracle did not happen by chance but was rather a product of conscious and collective will to transcend individual differences to find common ground.
                                   
“The delegates proved for all of the world to see that the power of persuasion is mightier than the words or the sword and that the bonds of shared destiny can overcome the deepest and most painful of divisions. The world is in a state of upheaval unseen since the ominous years of the Cold War. We are witnessing the erosion of democratic values, the rise of polarisation and the retreat from discourse in many corners of the world, Mbumba added.
 
The Art of Persuasion follows Dr Mathe's previously published biography of late president Dr Hage Geingob, 'Whispers of Freedom,' in February 2025.