Reform, unification in politicallymature times
Namibia is a small country, with many people vying for leadership positions only for selfish reasons. Everyone wants a piece of cake, and if you play your cards well politically, you may get it without having to meet any qualifications at all. Due to the non-renewable resources that God gave our nation, Namibia, the economy is in decline and is not supported in a way that benefits the people living there, but rather those who play cards are essential to its enjoyment.
That is a preamble to political suffering, not a topic. The date of Namibia’s presidential election is set for November 27.
However, the country will face challenges in playing football because they won’t know which team to support, which team has the best starting lineup, which team has the best coach, etc. This is because the best team cannot be chosen by allowing players to choose who plays on the field. Instead, the team needs a coach who should lead the team to success rather than pursue personal glory.
That is a preview of political suffering, not a topic. Based on the belief that the best team cannot be determined by letting players suggest who should play, the team needs a coach who should not aim to eat but to lead the team to success. The country will play a difficult game of football but not know which team to play for, which team may have the best first 11 to support, which team may have the best coach to lead.
Well, let us get started. The coach is going up against other coaches, but the winning squad will shake hands at the conclusion. Given this context, it is fitting that, following the game, coaches meet to exchange ideas and acknowledge any mistakes that may have been made.
My contention is that, in our sparsely-populated homeland, unity is the key to progress; division will only serve to feed the egos of those who want to eat, establish their own teams, play cards, and eat. To strengthen national capacity in concert, I propose that all candidates running in the 2025 presidential election should be appointed as ministers or deputy ministers by their opponents. Their ideas about how to run the Namibian government should then be contributed from within the country rather than coming from outside or being silent after losing. Appointments, however, ought to be made based on technocrats, skill, and merit.
As we await the results of the polls, let us challenge our prospective candidates to maintain economic harmony and refrain from abusing it by creating a multitude of political parties, each to enrich themselves at the expense of the general populace. It is undeniable that, as a nation, we have the power to voice our opinions through voting, but it is concerning that, our voices are being divided for reasons that are known only to those involved. This is a clear sign that their goal is not unity but rather the division of Namibia’s tiny population, as opposed to using common sense to pull in one direction. Signs of division in the Namibian house: in a country with a tiny population, men stand up for men, women for women, tribes for tribes, seniors for elders, and youths for youths.
I leave it here, for further analysis.
*Gotrieb P Hangula is an SRC secretary general and a former SRC representative for academic affairs at Unam Rundu Campus, a community contemporary leader, and an advocate of student unions.