Political Perspective: Taking The Plunge

By: GWEN LISTER

IT is very positive development that the Swapo Congress will have a choice when it comes to deciding on the candidate to succeed incumbent head of state, Sam Nujoma, when his term expires in 2005. The fact that there are three nominations for the country's top post is a real test in democracy for the ruling party and should not be seen as evidence of disunity because this is not the case.

SOME party stalwarts, and this probably includes the President,

don't want or like the idea of a contest for succession.

Doubtless President Nujoma would have preferred Swapo to have

simply rubber-stamped his choice of one candidate (who is known to

be Lands Minister and Vice President of Swapo, Hifikepunye Pohamba)

rather than throw it open to a number of candidates.

 

It is heartening that others felt differently and pushed for

three names to be submitted for selection at the Swapo Congress

later this month.

 

There are a number of reasons for this and there are also a

number of people, not necessarily candidates, who feel the time is

right for an open contest rather than one man's decision.

 

It is not surprising that the President would like to hand pick

his successor; and it is equally unsurprising that he would want to

choose someone he is close to.

 

It must be difficult to relinquish power - particularly after

decades - without wanting to retain some control if at all

possible.

 

But it can be said that the Party has nipped this in the

bud.

 

And if President Nujoma feels aggrieved that they - firstly -

didn't renew calls for his fourth term - and secondly - not

wholeheartedly embrace his selection; he really shouldn't.

 

It is no ill reflection on him or his years in power in the

Party or as head of state, that Swapo wants to stretch its

wings.

 

It is probably, after all, a sign that it is moving from

liberation movement to political party and that is a positive

sign.

 

It is likely also indicative that the era of one-man rule of the

party is over.

 

No one individual in Swapo would ever have the clout that Nujoma

has enjoyed over the years and this is not a bad thing either.

 

Although there is little doubt that his disciplined and even

autocratic style of leadership served Swapo well in the liberation

years, it is not the recipe for a future committed to democracy and

change.

 

Now is the time for Swapo to choose.

 

And, as I mentioned earlier, there is nothing 'wrong' or

'divisive' about having an open campaign for succession.

 

The President has earned his retirement, and no one can begrudge

him this.

 

There are others who have made their contribution to Namibia,

and it is time for them to freely and fairly contest candidature

for the country's top job.

 

Some of the news reports on the recent Politburo and Central

Committee meetings at which the three choices were decided talked a

lot about 'potential rifts' and 'divisive issues', but this is not

strictly true.

 

Swapo is patently unpracticed in the ways of democracy, and so

it is a learning process they have undertaken.

 

The question of 'unity' has always been misconstrued.

 

One can be united in the party while at the same time differing

on the choice for presidential succession.

 

The problem is 'unity' in the Party has always been equated with

loyalty to one man, and this is not the same thing.

 

The President has made his choice.

 

We cannot say at this stage whether Congress will share his view

that Pohamba is the man for the presidency.

 

It is quite possible they could favour one of the other two,

namely Ministers Hidipo Hamutenya or Nahas Angula.

 

It would perhaps be advisable for the President now to take a

back seat.

 

Obviously there will be lobbying and jockeying for positions,

but that is as it should be.

 

Undue influence, however, should not be used by the head of

state to ensure he gets his way.

 

It is high time that democratic choice within the Party should

prevail.

 

Doubtless President Nujoma would have preferred Swapo to have

simply rubber-stamped his choice of one candidate (who is known to

be Lands Minister and Vice President of Swapo, Hifikepunye Pohamba)

rather than throw it open to a number of candidates.It is

heartening that others felt differently and pushed for three names

to be submitted for selection at the Swapo Congress later this

month.There are a number of reasons for this and there are also a

number of people, not necessarily candidates, who feel the time is

right for an open contest rather than one man's decision.It is not

surprising that the President would like to hand pick his

successor; and it is equally unsurprising that he would want to

choose someone he is close to.It must be difficult to relinquish

power - particularly after decades - without wanting to retain some

control if at all possible.But it can be said that the Party has

nipped this in the bud.And if President Nujoma feels aggrieved that

they - firstly - didn't renew calls for his fourth term - and

secondly - not wholeheartedly embrace his selection; he really

shouldn't.It is no ill reflection on him or his years in power in

the Party or as head of state, that Swapo wants to stretch its

wings.It is probably, after all, a sign that it is moving from

liberation movement to political party and that is a positive

sign.It is likely also indicative that the era of one-man rule of

the party is over.No one individual in Swapo would ever have the

clout that Nujoma has enjoyed over the years and this is not a bad

thing either.Although there is little doubt that his disciplined

and even autocratic style of leadership served Swapo well in the

liberation years, it is not the recipe for a future committed to

democracy and change.Now is the time for Swapo to choose.And, as I

mentioned earlier, there is nothing 'wrong' or 'divisive' about

having an open campaign for succession.The President has earned his

retirement, and no one can begrudge him this.There are others who

have made their contribution to Namibia, and it is time for them to

freely and fairly contest candidature for the country's top

job.Some of the news reports on the recent Politburo and Central

Committee meetings at which the three choices were decided talked a

lot about 'potential rifts' and 'divisive issues', but this is not

strictly true.Swapo is patently unpracticed in the ways of

democracy, and so it is a learning process they have undertaken.The

question of 'unity' has always been misconstrued.One can be united

in the party while at the same time differing on the choice for

presidential succession.The problem is 'unity' in the Party has

always been equated with loyalty to one man, and this is not the

same thing.The President has made his choice.We cannot say at this

stage whether Congress will share his view that Pohamba is the man

for the presidency.It is quite possible they could favour one of

the other two, namely Ministers Hidipo Hamutenya or Nahas Angula.It

would perhaps be advisable for the President now to take a back

seat.Obviously there will be lobbying and jockeying for positions,

but that is as it should be.Undue influence, however, should not be

used by the head of state to ensure he gets his way.It is high time

that democratic choice within the Party should prevail.

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