Remain Friends Before, During and After Elections

The main aim of my article is to encourage Namibians to remain friends with one another before, during and after tomorrow’s election process. 

There is no need to generate hatred or discontent just because people want to be elected as president or parties want majority seats in parliament. 

At the end of the day, there is more than enough space for all of us in our beautiful country. 

Elections are by default a divisive mechanism as people must choose which party or which presidential candidate they prefer over the other. 

These choices are influenced by many factors and often end up pitting people against one another. 

What makes matters worse is that politicians use each and every trick in the political playbook to try and make this or the other party, or presidential candidate, look worse. 

The danger of this lies in influencing people to despise or look down on one other during election processes. 

This is not good. There is no need for those who had no issue with one other previously to suddenly become estranged, or even enemies, just because of the democratic exercise called elections.

DON’T BE MANIPULATED

Elections are part of our democratic system. They give citizens the right to vote for their preferred party and presidential candidate. 

This is enshrined in our Constitution as the narrative of a government by the people and for the people. 

Namibia, in line with its constitutional requirements, has regularly held elections since independence. 

One of the major successes has been their peaceful and non-violent nature.

Namibia has rightly been praised internationally for holding peaceful elections and running a country considered peaceful and stable. 

It is something citizens should never take for granted: Nothing great is achieved during unrest or where peace and stability are missing. 

There is absolutely no need to create unstable environments in our beautiful country.

Considering that we generally don’t hate one other or are in conflict with one another, peace should be the order of the day before, during and after elections.  

As citizens we should not allow ourselves to be swayed by those seeking political office in such a manner that we turn against one another for their personal benefit; it’s just not worth it. 

It is absurd and absolutely unnecessary. 

We should, as we have in the past, co-exist peacefully: Where there is peace and harmony, there is life and progress.

THE VALUE OF TOLERANCE

It is important to tolerate different views. 

Just because your friend or a colleague chooses to support a different party, or presidential candidate to you, they don’t suddenly become ‘unworthy’ of your friendship. 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having different views.

All that is really left for us is to try to convince friends why we think our party is a better choice than theirs. 

These choices come only once in five years and should not be blown out of proportion. Life goes on right after election day. 

The idea is to have a stable country where each and every citizen can have opportunities to better their life.

My advice, especially to the youth, is that there is absolutely no need to allow the election process to destroy friendships built up over years.

– Iipumbu Sakaria is a Namibian citizen. The views expressed here are entirely his own.