Nujoma Must Practice Restraint

By: GWEN LISTER

PRESIDENT Sam Nujoma is on the warpath and could cause this country irreparable damage if he continues in the present manner.

No one would deny that it is the prerogative of a powerful

executive to fire a Minister, even where there is no reason.

It is within the President's mandate to do so; and-or to

discipline cadres for alleged unparty-like activities.

 

However, the timing and manner in which he this week chose to do

this to a Minister who is one of three presidential candidates

contesting the Swapo nomination in the already highly-charged

atmosphere of the Swapo extraordinary congress this weekend, throws

into question his motives:whether there really is substance to the

move, or whether he just wanted to take out a man he sees as a

threat to his favoured successor.

 

It also creates the impression that the President is prepared to

go all out to get his way at any cost.

 

This, along with Swapo HQ's interference in the Ongwediva

post-election process, does not bode well for democracy.

 

Swapo overturned the choice of the voters at Ongwediva by

preventing newly elected councillors from being sworn in and

replacing them with their own handpicked people.

 

That is cheating the people.

 

The President should set the tone for the strengthening of

democracy and its structures instead of undermining them.

 

On top of this, during the last fortnight, the President has

resorted to innuendo, insinuation and outright insults in attacking

those he perceives as not bowing to his will.

 

At such a delicate time in our country's history - a time which

should be characterised by good judgement and sensitive leadership

while we make the transition from one President to another - the

Head of State cannot afford to go on unbridled tirades against

individuals, such as opposition leader Ben Ulenga.

 

This has already had the effect of increasing tensions and is

fomenting political hatred.

 

In earlier editorials, we commended President Sam Nujoma for

standing down and allowing the democratic process for the election

of a new President to go ahead.

 

We also emphasised at the time that the manner of transition was

almost entirely dependent on the President's own handling of the

situation.

 

And while we are aware that he failed in his bid to install his

favourite candidate, Hifikepunye Pohamba, as the ruling party's

sole nominee, he was nevertheless obliged the fulfil the wishes of

the majority of his party who chose three candidates.

 

He could have done so with magnanimity, but instead it appears

he has accepted his party's wishes with bad grace and has chosen

the path of vengeance and victimisation.

 

In so doing, he puts at risk all that we hold dear in this

still-fledgling democracy.

 

Perhaps the President feels his timing is right, but it is

highly dubious whether actions of this nature are in the interests

of the country as a whole.

 

President Nujoma will remain in the driver's seat for a good

time yet.

 

The stability of the interim, or transitional, phase between the

selection of his predecessor and the time he finally leaves office,

could be seriously jeopardised if, for example, Hidipo Hamutenya

succeeds in his bid for nomination.

 

Bad blood between the incumbent President and his successor

would mean a potentially explosive situation before Nujoma finally

steps down.

 

There is a lot he can do to make life difficult for a candidate

he has deliberately chosen to lobby against.

 

This too, would not be in the interests of continued peace,

stability and democracy.

 

We would therefore urge the President to at all times act in the

interests of this country and its people who fought a prolonged

struggle, not only to rid Namibia of apartheid colonial rule, but

perhaps more importantly, for the right to exercise

self-determination.

 

He cannot, and should not, interfere with this process because

of a whim and personal preferences.

 

Nor should the President use the power that comes with his

position to sway votes in the direction he prefers.

 

The President should set the example and encourage Namibians to

abide by the outcome if the vote is free and fair.

 

Democracy must prevail and the delegates should make their

choices according to the dictates of their conscience.

 

They should not allow themselves to be intimidated, or to be

swayed by self-preservation.

 

The onus is on them to ensure that the right thing is done.

 

They have a responsibility to act in the interests of the

nation.

 

It is within the President's mandate to do so; and-or to discipline

cadres for alleged unparty-like activities.However, the timing and

manner in which he this week chose to do this to a Minister who is

one of three presidential candidates contesting the Swapo

nomination in the already highly-charged atmosphere of the Swapo

extraordinary congress this weekend, throws into question his

motives:whether there really is substance to the move, or whether

he just wanted to take out a man he sees as a threat to his

favoured successor.It also creates the impression that the

President is prepared to go all out to get his way at any

cost.This, along with Swapo HQ's interference in the Ongwediva

post-election process, does not bode well for democracy.Swapo

overturned the choice of the voters at Ongwediva by preventing

newly elected councillors from being sworn in and replacing them

with their own handpicked people.That is cheating the people.The

President should set the tone for the strengthening of democracy

and its structures instead of undermining them.On top of this,

during the last fortnight, the President has resorted to innuendo,

insinuation and outright insults in attacking those he perceives as

not bowing to his will.At such a delicate time in our country's

history - a time which should be characterised by good judgement

and sensitive leadership while we make the transition from one

President to another - the Head of State cannot afford to go on

unbridled tirades against individuals, such as opposition leader

Ben Ulenga.This has already had the effect of increasing tensions

and is fomenting political hatred.In earlier editorials, we

commended President Sam Nujoma for standing down and allowing the

democratic process for the election of a new President to go

ahead.We also emphasised at the time that the manner of transition

was almost entirely dependent on the President's own handling of

the situation.And while we are aware that he failed in his bid to

install his favourite candidate, Hifikepunye Pohamba, as the ruling

party's sole nominee, he was nevertheless obliged the fulfil the

wishes of the majority of his party who chose three candidates.He

could have done so with magnanimity, but instead it appears he has

accepted his party's wishes with bad grace and has chosen the path

of vengeance and victimisation.In so doing, he puts at risk all

that we hold dear in this still-fledgling democracy.Perhaps the

President feels his timing is right, but it is highly dubious

whether actions of this nature are in the interests of the country

as a whole.President Nujoma will remain in the driver's seat for a

good time yet.The stability of the interim, or transitional, phase

between the selection of his predecessor and the time he finally

leaves office, could be seriously jeopardised if, for example,

Hidipo Hamutenya succeeds in his bid for nomination.Bad blood

between the incumbent President and his successor would mean a

potentially explosive situation before Nujoma finally steps

down.There is a lot he can do to make life difficult for a

candidate he has deliberately chosen to lobby against.This too,

would not be in the interests of continued peace, stability and

democracy.We would therefore urge the President to at all times act

in the interests of this country and its people who fought a

prolonged struggle, not only to rid Namibia of apartheid colonial

rule, but perhaps more importantly, for the right to exercise

self-determination.He cannot, and should not, interfere with this

process because of a whim and personal preferences.Nor should the

President use the power that comes with his position to sway votes

in the direction he prefers.The President should set the example

and encourage Namibians to abide by the outcome if the vote is free

and fair.Democracy must prevail and the delegates should make their

choices according to the dictates of their conscience.They should

not allow themselves to be intimidated, or to be swayed by

self-preservation.The onus is on them to ensure that the right

thing is done.They have a responsibility to act in the interests of

the nation.

---