Political Perspective

POLITICAL leaders need to exercise restraint and guard their tongues if they are to set an example to their followers to do likewise.

Just when I’ve heaped praise on President Hifikepunye Pohamba, new Swapo Party leader, for his measured and conciliatory tone, he begins to act like his predecessor. And shortly after I’d commended the newly formed Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) for not basing their formation on anti-Swapo rhetoric, they resort once more to fighting talk.THIS weekend will see rallies of the abovementioned parties on the same day in the North, and I personally would like to see democracy take its course in an orderly manner, rather than have an eruption of antipathy between the two groups.The latter could well become reality if the political leadership engages in no-holds-barred sparring, and it would be most unfortunate for Namibia, which is now seen as one of the most stable and peaceful countries in Africa.Both these parties would be well advised to concentrate on their own plans of action, rather than wasting time and effort attacking one another – a futile exercise which can only end in political discontent at best, and chaos and an even more divided nation at worst.Leaders need to think before they speak.For President Pohamba to have made an appeal for traditional leaders to stay out of politics, for example, is hypocritical.Swapo has long welcomed traditional leaders into the fold of politics and the examples are many.And even as he spoke, apparently to warn certain Kwanyama tribal leaders to remain clear of involvement in the RDP, he was at the same time flanked by those traditional heads who are aligned with Swapo! He also indulged in the ‘prophets of doom’ rhetoric, which his successor perfected before him.It was unbecoming coming from a man of Pohamba’s stature and standing as Head of State.The RDP in turn wasted no time in firing back, even though their statement acknowledged the need for the political arena to be a battleground “for ideas and not platforms for slander”.To a large extent of course, it is necessary for any political party contesting for public support to say where their opponents fall short and where they can do better.But this should be kept on a high level, and should not be allowed to descend into tribal-based infighting and insults in general.Certainly Swapo could always lay claim to the majority of hearts and minds in the North – and the election results have always borne this out – but now there’s a ‘new kid on the block’ contesting for support in those areas, and Swapo has to accept the competition in good grace.Gone are the days when the likes of Jerry Ekandjo could not only threaten, but also convince, people of those rural areas that if they didn’t vote for Swapo ‘the Casspirs would come back’.Even political illiterates would no longer believe that, because it is simply not possible.So it will not benefit Swapo to use coercion, and use the same tactics to try and discredit the RDP.It is true that the RDP was formed primarily as a result of the actions and words of Pohamba’s predecessor, Sam Nujoma.There is little doubt that most of those who formed the new party would have remained in Swapo if things had not been made untenable for them.So in many ways, Swapo has itself to blame, if that is the right word, for the birth of the RDP.But whatever its cause or origin, it is now a player on the political scene, and Swapo must find ways and means to deal with the new opposition that does not involve a constant campaign of vilification.In turn the RDP should rise above the tendency to hit back.They shouldn’t need to do this if they have a strong platform to attract membership.Swapo has governed Namibia since its inception as an independent state, and whereas there’ve been good things, there are also many areas in which they’ve fallen short and have not delivered according to their promises.This is where the RDP needs to step in, and show how they could improve on the record of Swapo.And a positive and progressive agenda would do a lot to attract people to a new political position, especially those who are tired of the Swapo way of doing (or not doing!) things.Above all, politicians on all sides should refrain from instigating tribalism, for that would be unforgivable, and would lead Namibia down a path most people would not want to go.President Pohamba has the biggest responsibility of all, for he is not only Swapo Party President, but also Head of State.He should be everyone’s leader, and he should be able to do it with dignity and grace, and not by falling prey to inter-political rivalry.He will earn the respect of a nation (and not just the support of Swapo cadres) if he does this.I would conclude by expressing the hope that both these parties will exhibit absolute restraint over the weekend at the insistence of their leaders, and call on their supporters to follow suit, and that both rallies take place in peace.And shortly after I’d commended the newly formed Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) for not basing their formation on anti-Swapo rhetoric, they resort once more to fighting talk.THIS weekend will see rallies of the abovementioned parties on the same day in the North, and I personally would like to see democracy take its course in an orderly manner, rather than have an eruption of antipathy between the two groups.The latter could well become reality if the political leadership engages in no-holds-barred sparring, and it would be most unfortunate for Namibia, which is now seen as one of the most stable and peaceful countries in Africa.Both these parties would be well advised to concentrate on their own plans of action, rather than wasting time and effort attacking one another – a futile exercise which can only end in political discontent at best, and chaos and an even more divided nation at worst.Leaders need to think before they speak.For President Pohamba to have made an appeal for traditional leaders to stay out of politics, for example, is hypocritical.Swapo has long welcomed traditional leaders into the fold of politics and the examples are many.And even as he spoke, apparently to warn certain Kwanyama tribal leaders to remain clear of involvement in the RDP, he was at the same time flanked by those traditional heads who are aligned with Swapo! He also indulged in the ‘prophets of doom’ rhetoric, which his successor perfected before him.It was unbecoming coming from a man of Pohamba’s stature and standing as Head of State.The RDP in turn wasted no time in firing back, even though their statement acknowledged the need for the political arena to be a battleground “for ideas and not platforms for slander”.To a large extent of course, it is necessary for any political party contesting for public support to say where their opponents fall short and where they can do better.But this should be kept on a high level, and should not be allowed to descend into tribal-based infighting and insults in general.Certainly Swapo could always lay claim to the majority of hearts and minds in the North – and the election results have always borne this out – but now there’s a ‘new kid on the block’ contesting for support in those areas, and Swapo has to accept the competition in good grace.Gone are the days when the likes of Jerry Ekandjo could not only threaten, but also convince, people of those rural areas that if they didn’t vote for Swapo ‘the Casspirs would come back’.Even political illiterates would no longer believe that, because it is simply not possible.So it will not benefit Swapo to use coercion, and use the same tactics to try and discredit the RDP.It is true that the RDP was formed primarily as a result of the actions and words of Pohamba’s predecessor, Sam Nujoma.There is little doubt that most of those who formed the new party would have remained in Swapo if things had not been made untenable for them.So in many ways, Swapo has itself to blame, if that is the right word, for the birth of the RDP.But whatever its cause or origin, it is now a player on the political scene, and Swapo must find ways and means to deal with the new opp
osition that does not involve a constant campaign of vilification.In turn the RDP should rise above the tendency to hit back.They shouldn’t need to do this if they have a strong platform to attract membership.Swapo has governed Namibia since its inception as an independent state, and whereas there’ve been good things, there are also many areas in which they’ve fallen short and have not delivered according to their promises.This is where the RDP needs to step in, and show how they could improve on the record of Swapo.And a positive and progressive agenda would do a lot to attract people to a new political position, especially those who are tired of the Swapo way of doing (or not doing!) things.Above all, politicians on all sides should refrain from instigating tribalism, for that would be unforgivable, and would lead Namibia down a path most people would not want to go.President Pohamba has the biggest responsibility of all, for he is not only Swapo Party President, but also Head of State.He should be everyone’s leader, and he should be able to do it with dignity and grace, and not by falling prey to inter-political rivalry.He will earn the respect of a nation (and not just the support of Swapo cadres) if he does this.I would conclude by expressing the hope that both these parties will exhibit absolute restraint over the weekend at the insistence of their leaders, and call on their supporters to follow suit, and that both rallies take place in peace.