Multiplying of independent candidates questioned

Political analysts are raising concerns over the rapid increase in the number of independent presidential candidates, although they say this is good for democracy.

“Most of them have similar ideologies. Why are they not teaming up with people who share the same ideologies and vision to get common ground?” asks analyst Ben Mulongeni.

He says Namibia has a lack of political understanding and maturity.

Mulongeni said this in response to Republican Party (RP) Kunene regional coordinator Lisbeth Kaumbi (42) announcing her ambition to run for president as an independent candidate on Wednesday.

Kaumbi, who joins five other independent candidates, including Rosa Namises, Lydia Kandetu and Ally Angula, says she wants to end the oppression of women and promote their elevation as partners and leaders.

Mulongeni believes this would force votes to be shared among too many candidates, leading to only bigger parties scoring a decent number of votes.

Political analyst Johannes Coetzee says there is a vacuum of servant and ethical leadership in Namibia.

“If people think we need more presidential candidates, let them mushroom the presidential candidates,” he says.

Coetzee says the public is not happy with political leaders bound by ideology.

“They do not trust political party leaders. It is time to change to independent candidates who do not represent any political party,” he says.

Coetzee says securing 500 votes to support independent candidates is easy.

“I think I could also manage that for the sake of joking with the system created by people who did not give it much thought,” he says.

Political analyst Nduma Kamwanyah says the mushrooming of independent candidates could spoil the election outcome and lead to an undesirable candidate being elected.

He, however, says this is an indication that people want change and that traditional parties are not bringing about the desired improvements to the country.