Why Vote?

AFTER THE horror of the Nazi regime and witnessing the Soviet dictatorship under Stalin, British prime minister Winston Churchill declared in 1947: “Many forms of government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. 

“No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time…”

NAMIBIA’S FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY

Namibians suffered under white minority rule until 1990. There was no democracy. 

The country was governed by South Africa like a province. Only whites were entitled to vote for a local administration. 

The anti-colonial liberation struggle was a fight for national sovereignty under a democratically elected government. 

Independence was proclaimed on 21 March 1990. 

Many among potential voters have no memory of this. As so-called born frees, they were raised in a democratic society where every citizen from the age of 18 years can vote in regular free and fair elections every five years. 

In November, all those who are eligible to vote and have registered with Namibia’s Electoral Commission are entitled to decide who, as from 21 March 2025, will represent the people in the National Assembly, and who will be sworn in as the country’s next president. 

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Most democracies face a decline in voter participation. 

In many countries, the democratically elected office bearers are only supported by the votes of a minority. 

The electoral system in the United Kingdom saw a landslide victory for the Labour Party with only about one-third of the votes that were cast. 

In the USA, Donald Trump was elected as president despite Hillary Clinton having received far more votes. 

This is a result of the electoral system in these countries. 

In contrast, Namibia’s electoral system is strictly proportional. Every vote for a party list counts the same. 

With less than 1% of the votes, the candidate on top of the party list will be elected to represent his/her party in parliament. 

Similarly, the parallel elections for a president will count every vote for a candidate. The candidate with most votes will be the elected president. 

This system gives voters maximum power. Your vote counts. 

Of course, this does not mean your preferred party or presidential candidate will be elected by the majority to govern. 

As all votes are as valid as yours, the majority decides. 

But if you do not vote, you have decided not to participate in electing those who will represent the citizens of this country. 

In Namibia, the office of the president has far-reaching executive powers. It is a decisive position when it comes to policy and governance. 

The lawmakers in the National Assembly are responsible for controlling policy. By drafting laws, they create the legal framework of governance. These should implement and protect constitutional principles. 

RIGHTS AND CHOICES

The normative values of Namibia’s Constitution include freedom of opinion and speech, the freedom to organise and assemble, and other significant liberties. 

These are the hallmarks of a vibrant civil society and political culture. 

Those who do not participate and make no use of their right forfeit the influence they have. 

Governance thrives on public debate, arguing over matters of general concern. 

Those who govern should be taken to task. Transparency and accountability matter. 

So does delivery in the best interest of the people. 

Members of parliament and the president take an oath to act in the interest of the people. 

Political parties and presidential candidates stand for different policies. 

Voters have the right to make a choice. Look at what the parties stand for. 

Poverty alleviation, corruption, and unemployment are some of the burning issues. 

There are many more. What about gender equality and reproductive rights for women? What about abortion? 

What about the free choice of partners in consensual relations among adults? 

These are just a few topical examples sparking controversy in the public sphere.

How do parties and presidential candidates position themselves? 

Their programmes should play a role in deciding who to vote for. And this requires making informed decisions. 

Democracy and governance is as good as the electorate wants it to be. 

Contribute to building, maintaining and renovating the Namibian House – it should be yours.   

– Henning Melber, extraordinary professor at the University of Pretoria and the University of the Free State

– Presentation at the Voters’ Youth Conference held on 13 July at the Roman Catholic Hall in Windhoek (via Zoom)