It is about time there was a vigorous debate in Parliament on this score because the public surely has the right to know whether the funds, ostensibly earmarked to promote pluralism and sustainability, are actually used to further these goals.

POLITICAL parties are allocated funds proportional to electoral support, and the more votes, the more money, so it stands to reason that the ruling party, Swapo, gets the lion's share of the proceeds.

When one sees the current divisions in Swapo (and truly, for those detractors, this is not a figment of my imagination!) one has to seriously question whether anything at all (whether time or resources or money) is being spent on trying to put things right.

And unfortunately, when one hears that Swapo gave a post at HQ to the discredited former Deputy Minister and Youth League Secretary Paulus Kapia, who became unemployable after the Avid scandal in which he was involved, one wonders also at the Party's stated commitment to fighting corruption! His salary, therefore, is paid with taxpayers' money, and one wonders whether this fact is reflected in the Parliamentary audits called for in terms of the funding.

Given this fact, as well as queries in the past about not only Swapo, but the way in which other political parties disburse these State funds, it may well be time that the Parliamentary Accounts Committee probe this issue and tell us how much of the money is put to good use, if at all! In the case of the ruling party, this isn't the only means of income.

They also have a phalanx of companies at their disposal, and so they do not lack resources.

There is a move at present, headed by the party president, to build multi-million-dollar edifices and office blocks for Swapo, while the rot continues in the ranks.

These divisions are not simply an 'internal party matter' as some would say when others dare criticise.

They are affecting the very fabric of society and even appointments in Government and parastatals and at the end of the day, are further undermining good governance.

If Cabinet is questioning or taking issue with the short-listed candidates for the post of NBC Director General for example (and they are fully entitled to do so) this should be on the basis of the merits of the candidates in question and not on their political affiliation or preferences.

But because the one who heads the list is a known sympathiser of still-ostracised former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya, this has set the cat among the pigeons so to speak! And if this is the kind of political direction given by the most senior leaders in the party itself, small wonder that division and infighting is proliferating in lower ranks as well.

All these shenanigans, including the recent NUNW congress which was split along similar lines, are apparently geared towards preparations for the 2007 congress of the party where it is already expected that the incumbent party leader will be accorded the title of 'President for life'.

Debate, disagreement or even dissension is not a problem in itself.

In fact it is a healthy product of any working democracy.

But when it degenerates into faction fighting that permeates every level of Government and society, we need to call a halt.

Or certainly the party leadership needs to provide the guidance and direction to get Swapo out of its current impasse and malaise.

It is, after all, the dominant party in Namibia, holding the reins of Government; and it should be leading by example and actively exercising the accountability and transparency that our head of state calls for.

It would indeed make for a refreshing change were this to happen.

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