Political Perspective

MANY Namibians seem to be grappling with the issue of whether, if they vote, anything will change.

This is probably a classic dilemma for many voters the world over

for various reasons.

Whatever the rationale for people to stay away from the polls,

it remains important to vote in order to affirm democracies.

 

FOR Namibians, a number of different elections are on the

horizon.

 

Local government elections as we speak; parliamentary and

presidential later in the year.

 

Different countries present different dilemmas for voters.

 

Except perhaps in Australia where people have to vote whether

they like it or not! There are many different reasons for apathetic

voting patterns.

 

Comparatively, Namibia's is not high.

 

To some extent people are still riding high on the relative

novelty of elections coming not too many years in the wake of

Independence.

 

But there are indications that enthusiasm is waning, and it is

important that all stakeholders in this process try to prevent a

decline into negligible or low voter turnout.

 

A vote is always worth something, even though it may not seem

like it at the time.

 

Just think about the hundreds of thousands of Americans who did

not vote when Bush came to power.

 

Had they done so, and cast their vote for the Democrats, this

huge prospective voting block could certainly have changed the

course of history, and I don't need to elaborate further.

 

Most people are aware of what President Bush has done to the

world and, in my view, it has not been to make it a better

place.

 

Hopefully in that country, voters will be spurred into action

this time around! In Namibia, where one political party dominates,

a lot of people who want to swim against the current may feel that

their vote will make no difference.

 

And it might not, of course, immediately unseat a political

party or candidate they want out, but these things take time.

 

And it would be unfortunate if the pattern is created of only

the supporters of a dominant political party deciding to cast their

ballots.

 

Electoral systems also play a role in apathy.

 

Namibia's democracy and voting processes would probably be

infused with new energy if we were to consider a mixed electoral

system, rather than simple proportional representation.

 

Nothing wrong with the latter per se, but at the end of the day

you're voting for a party rather than a person; and people may be

more energised about going to the polls if they truly feel they can

get their candidate in or get one out! Although its generally

considered the task of the electoral commission and various

political parties to educate the electorate, the latter should take

it upon themselves to know what the issues are.

 

Too often absolute ignorance is displayed (they don't know the

parties or the processes, among others) and there is really no

excuse for this as Namibians have had a couple of years in which to

practice.

 

In democracies, someone once said, people get the governments

they deserve, and if they don't turn out for or against change,

then they have only themselves to blame.

 

Governments too, though, contribute to voter apathy by really

losing touch with the electorate except when it comes to polling

time.

 

Then the parties are suddenly galvanised into action, touting

for votes in all corners of the country (and often using government

facilities to do so!).

 

But once the mandate has been attained, they often forget the

very people who put them in power.

 

So it is important, too, that political parties be inclusive and

consultative with their constituencies and supporters on an ongoing

basis.

 

Elections alone do not make a democracy work.

 

There is this (I believe incorrect) perception at work.

 

Democracy needs this, but it needs other facets as well in order

to properly serve the people.

 

But it's a good start if people mobilise themselves to get to

the polls.

 

They may feel they lack choices, but even a spoiled ballot puts

a message across.

 

Whatever the rationale for people to stay away from the polls, it

remains important to vote in order to affirm democracies. FOR

Namibians, a number of different elections are on the horizon.Local

government elections as we speak; parliamentary and presidential

later in the year.Different countries present different dilemmas

for voters.Except perhaps in Australia where people have to vote

whether they like it or not! There are many different reasons for

apathetic voting patterns.Comparatively, Namibia's is not high.To

some extent people are still riding high on the relative novelty of

elections coming not too many years in the wake of Independence.But

there are indications that enthusiasm is waning, and it is

important that all stakeholders in this process try to prevent a

decline into negligible or low voter turnout.A vote is always worth

something, even though it may not seem like it at the time.Just

think about the hundreds of thousands of Americans who did not vote

when Bush came to power.Had they done so, and cast their vote for

the Democrats, this huge prospective voting block could certainly

have changed the course of history, and I don't need to elaborate

further.Most people are aware of what President Bush has done to

the world and, in my view, it has not been to make it a better

place.Hopefully in that country, voters will be spurred into action

this time around! In Namibia, where one political party dominates,

a lot of people who want to swim against the current may feel that

their vote will make no difference.And it might not, of course,

immediately unseat a political party or candidate they want out,

but these things take time.And it would be unfortunate if the

pattern is created of only the supporters of a dominant political

party deciding to cast their ballots.Electoral systems also play a

role in apathy.Namibia's democracy and voting processes would

probably be infused with new energy if we were to consider a mixed

electoral system, rather than simple proportional

representation.Nothing wrong with the latter per se, but at the end

of the day you're voting for a party rather than a person; and

people may be more energised about going to the polls if they truly

feel they can get their candidate in or get one out! Although its

generally considered the task of the electoral commission and

various political parties to educate the electorate, the latter

should take it upon themselves to know what the issues are.Too

often absolute ignorance is displayed (they don't know the parties

or the processes, among others) and there is really no excuse for

this as Namibians have had a couple of years in which to

practice.In democracies, someone once said, people get the

governments they deserve, and if they don't turn out for or against

change, then they have only themselves to blame.Governments too,

though, contribute to voter apathy by really losing touch with the

electorate except when it comes to polling time.Then the parties

are suddenly galvanised into action, touting for votes in all

corners of the country (and often using government facilities to do

so!).But once the mandate has been attained, they often forget the

very people who put them in power.So it is important, too, that

political parties be inclusive and consultative with their

constituencies and supporters on an ongoing basis.Elections alone

do not make a democracy work.There is this (I believe incorrect)

perception at work.Democracy needs this, but it needs other facets

as well in order to properly serve the people.But it's a good start

if people mobilise themselves to get to the polls.They may feel

they lack choices, but even a spoiled ballot puts a message across.

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