By – Simeon Tonata Angombe
Twenty years has come and gone by with much to appreciate where reality applies and much left to be desired. Today I write this article tackling the un-tackled aspects of the life we’re living in Namibia. Topping the list is the political atmosphere which has become senseless in the eyes of a bright young person like myself as we have so many political parties that for a constructive and right minded person are not necessity to exist so.
Second is the economic perspective from which I have observed that our current political leadership as the constitution which is supposed to smoothen the road to self-empowerment has failed largely to do much in terms of challenging the status quo left behind by the previous colonial administration(s) of economic inequality and rather enriching those close to the political echelons.
The third and last concern for this article, is from a social angle whereby as a village raised Namibian and eventual ‘urbanist’, I feel that our current political leadership is failing yet to lay down programmes that are pro-society, and those that could easily enrich and benefit the state coffers at the same time if well implemented.
Without wasting much time I would like to point out a few flaws and solutions to our Political, Social and Economic aspects.
Political Perspective:
Looking at the 20 year old Namibian population of an estimated 2 million people, I find it ridiculously immature of a nation this young in age and quantity containment to already have 12 registered political parties. This in my view implies that those aspiring for political leadership positions thinks that the ordinary person is “dum” enough to choose them over others, when they merely are just similar thinkers in different colours, no wonder they refer to them as “voting cows” either way.
It is very disappointing for me to know and realistically put it into perspective that Swanu, and the Communist Party are the only political parties that advocates for policy changes towards different political lifestyles, besides the above-mentioned, Swapo as the majority ruling party since independence, has defined itself along the lines of a “Mixed economy (indirect capitalism)”. Other than the different approaches, we have the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) has also been a conservative party in it is political engagements and that is fairly understandable for it to exist as a political movement.
My concern is on the existence and clear distinction of the United Democratic Front of Namibia (UDF), Congress of Democrats (COD), Republican Party (RP), National Unity Democratic Organization (NUDO), Monitor Action Group (MAG), Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), All People’s Party (APP), Democratic Party of Namibia (DPN), Namibia Democratic Movement for Change (NDMC). If we clearly have to identify the relevance for these political groupings to exist, one will obviously see that these many political institutions are the foundation of the existence to the evils of society called “tribalism and regionalism” to the advantage of those who created them.
If we should be realistic about being a responsible citizen with its people at heart, was it necessary for Mr Ben Ulenga to form CoD, Mr Hidipo Hamutenya to form RDP, Mr Ignatius Shixwameni to form APP? Why couldn’t they just join any other party that existed before they could differ with their mother-founding parties? What is the difference we get in their contribution to national issues from their several political groupings? Wouldn’t it have been more appealing to the “voting cow” for Mr Hamutenya to join CoD projecting and justifying the dissatisfaction encountered by his colleague Mr Ben Ulenga, or even better join Swanu for example? This is just a thought which leaves a lot yet to be desired in understanding whether we have people who really qualifies to be referred to as future leaders of quality or just yet another power-hungry bunch of political opportunists.
I was thinking aloud with a friend on the street who shares similar views that maybe we should have a Political Parties Council established with a legal mandate to which certain documents are submitted, discussed, negotiated, defined and accepted or rejected whenever a group of people wishes to create a political institution, just so that our political environment is not polluted by hypocrisies deliberately.
Economic Perspective:
Knowing well that Namibia is relatively a young democracy, we have always had a very good economic foundation inherited from the former Colonial apartheid South African Administration. During the specified former administration, the population in large towns such as Windhoek wasn’t that much and that is why most of the needs to the City were dealt with progressive proper planning. Reference can be attributed to the forced removal of the black people from the Old Location to the universal location called Katutura (in simple English, the term ‘Katutura’ means – we will never settle).
When the Apartheid regime decided to move these people they had already budgeted and built structures of affordable housing for the groups to be moved, and for that I am proud to see a sense of social responsibility in the cruel regime.
Most of the people who settled in these houses around, now (Wambo, Damara, Herero Location and the Single Quarters) managed to successfully pay them off and the city of Windhoek enjoyed the returns from their investment. Now my question to the current government is to be explained to as to what is the main difficult thing for the authorities through the City of Windhoek to identify a possible residential site where they can build affordable houses for us who are desperately seeking to purchase such venues at a sustainable price which shall be reasonable also to empower the coffers of the investment?
Are the current authorities indirectly showing the “voting cow” that they care much less and are not worried for being innovative and willing to take economic risks for their masses on the ground?
On the other hand it will be very unfortunate to say that most economic decisions taken, but concerns society more than the governing system are imposed rather than taken in consultation with the people affected. Example being the current road fines and the eventual taxi (public transport grave concerned strike which was brushed aside ), when the Communication Bill was passed without much support it needed, the will of the people in these economic aspects have been ignored deliberately to serve the will and interests of the powers that be rather.
Having had to see Namibia become a copy-cat to advance with the Black Economic Empowerment which was firstly adopted and practiced in free South Africa, we have seen that the business environment has become for a select-few who seem to conquer every industry greedily at the expense of others who are not politically connected to attract potential foreign investors. The question most fellow young people ask me every now and then is the inequality in the business world, especially when they are at entrepreneurial stage and section of business. It hurts to know that I am an entrepreneur without much opportunity to practice my skills while the money magnets cruise in flashy cars at the expense of employment creation and creating a stable national economy.
Some other business people are labelled and refused business opportunities because they do not share similar political views with the ruling powers.
Now is this the kind of political leadership one in the 21st Century wants to identify and reason with? It is about time our leaders become active listeners and workers towards the advancement of the 21st Century child instead of dwindling around in lost thoughts.
Social Prospect:
From the social front I must commend government for having thus far had advocated for National reconciliation since the end of the political differences deliberately caused by the colonial regime. Yet, we are finding cases whereby people are pointing each other fingers on allegations of ethnic and tribal differences in politics or environmental settings.
Clear testament would be the Kwanyamas who were being threatened by fellow Namibians in Kavango regions for allegedly owning land and having animals on the land belonging to the Kwangalis. Aren’t we supposed to be Namibians before our natural differences? What has the government done to reconcile this situation or any other similar case? We find cases whereby the Kwanyama speaking people are associated with a political party called RDP just because they speak that dialect. To a certain extent, they are labelled and victimised even at public office level.
The growing unequal distribution of wealth for development between Rural areas and urban areas is also a growing social concern as we attempt to curb urbanisation. Are we confused in our leadership to balance how we act or what, for this to happen?
Information sharing and outreach programmes to inform people about opportunities is also a big social challenge as some young people who do not know where to go or what to do to start businesses or, join progressive youth groups or just get to know about general national developments. We ought to review our commitment to the values of the reasons the Liberation Struggle was fought and rededicate ourselves to working towards empowering our people and community at large for a better tomorrow.
*Mr Simeon Tonata Angombe is a political commentator and International Relations distance student. The views raised and points raised in this article are solely his personal ones and those of his political consciousness*
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