More Constituencies, More Diversions

So, Namibia could have 10 more constituencies while remaining at 14 regions despite calls for more?

Mara what’s the point of this exercise called the ‘Delimitation and Demarcation Commission’? 

In April last year, president Nangolo Mbumba set up the commission to review the country’s regional and constituency boundaries. 

He apparently gave them three months to set new boundaries before the 2024 elections.

Needless to say, the commission asked for more time. This week it returned with recommendations that Namibia increase the number of constituencies to 131. At the same time, it rejected appeals to split the Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Kunene regions.

If past proposals are anything to go by, the president and Cabinet will have the loudest voice on what they want. 

Since independence, Namibian politicians have banged the drums of splitsville by arguing that more regions and constituencies would “improve service delivery”.

Duh! The results are there for all to see. Key public services like health, housing, education, health and food security have been getting worse.

The only beneficiaries have been more politicians elected at the expense of taxpayer money with the patronage of employing who they want, driving luxury vehicles and enjoying an array of perks as they criss-cross the country. 

Perhaps that’s why president Nangolo Mbumba emphasised that the government will “not create new institutions for the sake of appointing people to those positions. So, no new governors [will be appointed]. I’m sorry”.

The expectation that boundaries commissions must create employment opportunities for politicians must end once and for all. 

Namibia does not need more politicians. In fact, we have too many. More constituencies and regions have spawned a paralysing bureaucracy of councillors, governors and their briefcase carriers with less services delivered.

The country needs no more than six regions and 30 constituencies (if any) so that the money is spent on the population’s needs.

Besides, the commission has been nothing but a political platform about voting rather than economics and social living conditions.

The current political leaders should go back to the original idea of empowering voters, especially at towns, by being able to elect their ward/street representatives.

After all, it is at town and village level where pressing needs such as water, rubbish removal, sanitation and sport facilities, among others, are addressed.

Demarcation of constituency and regional boundaries have become a major diversion from changes aimed at holding elected leaders accountable.