The path to stability...

By: Political Perspective

IN many ways 2004 has been a muddled and confusing year in Namibia, characterised by political shenanigans and a lack of consistency, which has not helped propel us towards a more transparent culture, particularly in governance.

This in turn has had adverse effects on stability, development and

economic progress.

IRONICALLY, one of the major motivating factors by protagonists

of the President's choice for successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba,

argued their case largely based on the need for ongoing political

stability in this country.

 

In other words, a candidate not of President Sam Nujoma's

choosing might have heralded a rather uncomfortable era of mistrust

and in-fighting, which in turn would have negatively affected

Namibia's 'stability'.

 

Or so they claimed.

 

I never did buy this argument, which in my view held no water if

all concerned were committed to democracy and freedom of

choice.

 

Then why not 'let the best man win'? But whether myself or

others had our reservations about the 'stability' argument (if you

think it through logically, it is ludicrous in a democratic

context, to say stability is endangered simply because the

incumbent didn't get his way ...) it won through and Pohamba is now

President-in-waiting.

 

And I want to reason that there may well be the illusion of

stability in this country, but in truth it isn't grounded in

reality, which is anything but ...

 

Think back over the past year and the obvious deep divisions

within the ruling party that have been brought to the fore in the

campaign for President.

 

Think too how this has all manifested in the aftermath of the

Congress.

 

Give thought to the large number of parastatals, for example,

that have been subject to probes and investigations at huge cost;

to the chopping and changing of boards of many of these, some, but

not all, because of maladministration and corruption.

 

There is huge danger (and therefore inherent instability) in

making such changes at the whim of the political elite.

 

I've no hesitation in agreeing with summary actions against

those who have abused their office; but I've serious concerns about

the exercise of these political prerogatives without good reason

and only in order to 'get at' someone who may have fallen out of

official favour for spurious reasons.

 

The issue is admittedly more complex than I have space to

elucidate here, but I am forced to agree with the words of

outspoken retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu who incurred the ire of

South African President Thabo Mbeki when he claimed that black

economic empowerment benefited a small elite and called for action

against poverty.

 

We are breeding precisely the same culture here, and it is

largely based on political largesse and patronage.

 

'If you're with us, you will be rewarded; if you aren't, you

risk losing everything'.

 

And while many Namibians are put out into the political

wilderness (and let's not kid ourselves that they're not black

Namibians!) LaRRI has just completed a survey which finds that

white males still dominate in most economic sectors, despite

affirmative action.

 

Perhaps they need to dig deeper with their findings.

 

Why is this the case in the private sector, whereas in the

public sector it seems to be primarily black males who undeniably

dominate management ranks, yet are recycled with regularity for

political and/or other reasons.

 

And where, after all, does this chopping and changing leave us;

and worse still, what effect does this have on our so-called

'stability'? In my view, root out all who commit corrupt acts,

regardless of whether they are white or black, male or female.

 

Better still, block their future employment in any of our

economic sectors.

 

But for heaven's sake, don't chop and change people at will

simply because they dare to differ.

 

This promotes nothing other than a culture of sycophants and a

cadre of management elites who are not appointed on merits of

qualifications and skill.

 

And as they continue to mess up (as they will!) they in turn are

discredited and new, but still inefficient, yes-men are put in

their place.

 

And yes, people like the Archbishop will get jumped on from

dizzy heights by the politicians simply because they have a social

conscience.

 

Affirmative action must be fairly implemented, otherwise it is

as unfair as the unjust apartheid system which preceded it.

 

If dominated by nepotism and favouritism and political

patronage, affirmative action leaves the majority of disadvantaged

people as badly off as they ever were.

 

And this cannot be the path to stability of any kind.

 

IRONICALLY, one of the major motivating factors by protagonists of

the President's choice for successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba, argued

their case largely based on the need for ongoing political

stability in this country.In other words, a candidate not of

President Sam Nujoma's choosing might have heralded a rather

uncomfortable era of mistrust and in-fighting, which in turn would

have negatively affected Namibia's 'stability'.Or so they claimed.I

never did buy this argument, which in my view held no water if all

concerned were committed to democracy and freedom of choice.Then

why not 'let the best man win'? But whether myself or others had

our reservations about the 'stability' argument (if you think it

through logically, it is ludicrous in a democratic context, to say

stability is endangered simply because the incumbent didn't get his

way ...) it won through and Pohamba is now President-in-waiting.And

I want to reason that there may well be the illusion of stability

in this country, but in truth it isn't grounded in reality, which

is anything but ...Think back over the past year and the obvious

deep divisions within the ruling party that have been brought to

the fore in the campaign for President.Think too how this has all

manifested in the aftermath of the Congress.Give thought to the

large number of parastatals, for example, that have been subject to

probes and investigations at huge cost; to the chopping and

changing of boards of many of these, some, but not all, because of

maladministration and corruption.There is huge danger (and

therefore inherent instability) in making such changes at the whim

of the political elite.I've no hesitation in agreeing with summary

actions against those who have abused their office; but I've

serious concerns about the exercise of these political prerogatives

without good reason and only in order to 'get at' someone who may

have fallen out of official favour for spurious reasons.The issue

is admittedly more complex than I have space to elucidate here, but

I am forced to agree with the words of outspoken retired Archbishop

Desmond Tutu who incurred the ire of South African President Thabo

Mbeki when he claimed that black economic empowerment benefited a

small elite and called for action against poverty.We are breeding

precisely the same culture here, and it is largely based on

political largesse and patronage.'If you're with us, you will be

rewarded; if you aren't, you risk losing everything'.And while many

Namibians are put out into the political wilderness (and let's not

kid ourselves that they're not black Namibians!) LaRRI has just

completed a survey which finds that white males still dominate in

most economic sectors, despite affirmative action.Perhaps they need

to dig deeper with their findings.Why is this the case in the

private sector, whereas in the public sector it seems to be

primarily black males who undeniably dominate management ranks, yet

are recycled with regularity for political and/or other reasons.And

where, after all, does this chopping and changing leave us; and

worse still, what effect does this have on our so-called

'stability'? In my view, root out all who commit corrupt acts,

regardless of whether they are white or black, male or

female.Better still, block their future employment in any of our

economic sectors.But for heaven's sake, don't chop and change

people at will simply because they dare to differ.This promotes

nothing other than a culture of sycophants and a cadre of

management elites who are not appointed on merits of qualifications

and skill.And as they continue to mess up (as they will!) they in

turn are discredited and new, but still inefficient, yes-men are

put in their place.And yes, people like the Archbishop will get

jumped on from dizzy heights by the politicians simply because they

have a social conscience.Affirmative action must be fairly

implemented, otherwise it is as unfair as the unjust apartheid

system which preceded it.If dominated by nepotism and favouritism

and political patronage, affirmative action leaves the majority of

disadvantaged people as badly off as they ever were.And this cannot

be the path to stability of any kind.

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