Infant party aims for two-thirds majority

The three-month-old Action Democratic Movement (ADM) says the party aims to attain a two-thirds majority in the upcoming November elections.

This was announced by new party member Erastus Shuumbwa during a media conference at Ondangwa last week.

Political analysts, however, have labelled the target impossible and unrealistic.

Shuumbwa previously served as the All People’s Party (APP) acting president and one of its members of parliament before his recent suspension.

“Obviously, we are looking for a two-thirds majority for us to be able to change laws. Among those laws are the colonial laws that need to be changed, but as ADM we can only do that if we get the two-thirds majority,” Shuumbwa said.

The ADM’s top priority also includes providing free water to residents of villages and informal settlements, he added.
“We will also provide free education for both primary and higher education… and better healthcare for all Namibians. These are some of the things we will make sure we fight for,” Shuumbwa said.

“Some of the things we do not even need a two-thirds majority to do. As long as the people of Namibia give us the much needed support, we are going to make sure we fight for them. This is something we will make sure we will not compromise.”

Shuumbwa lamented the fact that 34 years after independence, Namibia still has people working in the contract labour system.

“They now even gave it a new name, such as service providers. If ADM is voted to power, we are going to make sure these things are no longer going to exist in Namibia.”

Shuumbwa said the ADM further aims to bring the government closer to the people.

“Each constituency will have government offices, such as a police station, a hospital and others. It pains me to hear of money returned to the Treasury due to lack of utilisation by a certain ministry,” Shuumbwa added.

“We have pupils being taught under trees and the government is aware of it, but still the money is being returned to the Treasury because of lack of implementation. We will make sure we run an efficient government.”

PARTY MANIFESTO

Shuumbwa said the ADM’s manifesto, titled ‘The People’s Mandate’, will be launched soon. “This document was crafted by the communities themselves. We go around communities and they state what they want to see in the next government of ADM. That is why we are calling on the people to come in numbers and vote for ADM,” Shuumbwa added.

IMPOSSIBLE

Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah has, however, questioned the ability of a newly formed party to attain a two-thirds majority.

“It is highly unlikely that a newly formed party can realistically achieve a two-thirds majority in Namibia’s upcoming elections. A two-thirds majority would require widespread national support, strong party structures and significant resources,” Kamwanyah said.

Given the limited time frame of three months left and the dominance of established parties like Swapo, it would be difficult for a new party to mobilise enough voters to secure such a large share of the vote, he added.

“Furthermore, the electoral system, political dynamics and voter loyalty in Namibia tend to favour well-established parties.”

According to Kamwanyah, trust in any political party – new or old – should be based on its track record, leadership, transparency and ability to deliver on promises.