Political Perspective
IT IS apparent that there is a dire need for big-time reconciliation in the ruling party, and I believe that many Swapo supporters share this view.
It could surely only be a hardline and obstinate group that would
want the status quo to continue with things the way they are.
Because not only is there open antipathy and mistrust in the
higher echelons of the Party, but even more sinister, rumours of
hitmen - all of which do not bode well for a smooth transition and
handover of power from the incumbent President Sam Nujoma, to his
chosen successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba.
WHILE there were, at the time of Congress earlier this year,
very strong, even vociferous, support groups for the candidatures
of Hidipo Hamutenya and Pohamba, this fortunately seems to have
dissipated, and most within Swapo now accept the latter (dare I say
it, even Hamutenya himself!).
Whereas President Nujoma is often regarded as unforgiving,
Pohamba has certainly come across as reconciliatory in his approach
since his election as Swapo's candidate of choice.
For this he must be commended as he inherited this title against
the background of a quite bitterly divided Swapo, a rift he and
others immediately set about trying to heal.
At the end of the day, Swapo could chalk up the often nasty
three-cornered contest for the Presidential nomination to
experience, and there were undoubtedly lessons learned, probably
foremost of all, that there was never a need for the open hostility
and even outright banishment of those who supported one group at
the expense of the other.
No President in his right mind would want to attain office at
the expense of people who, after all, simply made democratic
choices, and I believe Pohamba genuinely wants rapprochement, but
there are those who seemingly don't want him to mend the fences
that have been broken.
To all intents and purposes, he is only weeks away from calling
the shots (and I mean that figuratively and not literally!) and he
should be allowed to start right now.
The frequency of reports of chilly relations between him and the
very person who bulldozed his campaign cannot be ignored and must
be dealt with summarily if peace and harmony are to prevail.
Ironically, many people, even those who did not originally agree
with the Pohamba candidature, have subsequently come round to
thinking that it was the best thing for the country, to ensure
continuity, stability and a harmonious relationship between past
and present heads of state.
And now the President appears to be, if not at loggerheads, then
certainly at odds, with his successor.
The last Politburo meeting was not a happy affair, and this
tension was evident.
Out of this came, among others, high-ranking Swapo officials who
have said 'enough now' of the backbiting and bickering and
retribution.
Swapo offered them the choices which they exercised in one way
or another, and which cannot now be held against them.
Hence the calls for reconciliation and forgiveness.
No one could disagree with this approach.
No one could disagree either that the current climate of fear
cannot be allowed to continue, let alone be fuelled by people who
have strange agendas.
Both outgoing and incoming Presidents made noises about 'unity'
after the last Politburo meeting.
Hopefully they meant not 'unity', because people can and must
differ, but reconciliation, in the sense that you accept the right
of the other to take a different viewpoint, whether you agree with
it or not.
A Politburo meeting and possible Central Committee meeting are
scheduled for early next week.
President Nujoma has to not only support, but to be seen to be
giving his full support, to his successor in all the
decision-making that lies ahead; whether it concerns the
appointment of the new Cabinet or in the approach he needs to take
to bring about reconciliation where it is so badly needed in Party
ranks.
More than this, he needs to put paid, once and for all, to some
of the frightening rumours that are doing the rounds.
To further fuel the suspicion and even outright hatred that is
prevalent in some quarters is to play with the peace and security
this country has been fortunate enough to enjoy to date.
The way it is dealt with will determine both President Nujoma's
legacy as well as Pohamba's inheritance and the country's
future.
Because not only is there open antipathy and mistrust in the higher
echelons of the Party, but even more sinister, rumours of hitmen -
all of which do not bode well for a smooth transition and handover
of power from the incumbent President Sam Nujoma, to his chosen
successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba.WHILE there were, at the time of
Congress earlier this year, very strong, even vociferous, support
groups for the candidatures of Hidipo Hamutenya and Pohamba, this
fortunately seems to have dissipated, and most within Swapo now
accept the latter (dare I say it, even Hamutenya himself!).Whereas
President Nujoma is often regarded as unforgiving, Pohamba has
certainly come across as reconciliatory in his approach since his
election as Swapo's candidate of choice.For this he must be
commended as he inherited this title against the background of a
quite bitterly divided Swapo, a rift he and others immediately set
about trying to heal.At the end of the day, Swapo could chalk up
the often nasty three-cornered contest for the Presidential
nomination to experience, and there were undoubtedly lessons
learned, probably foremost of all, that there was never a need for
the open hostility and even outright banishment of those who
supported one group at the expense of the other.No President in his
right mind would want to attain office at the expense of people
who, after all, simply made democratic choices, and I believe
Pohamba genuinely wants rapprochement, but there are those who
seemingly don't want him to mend the fences that have been
broken.To all intents and purposes, he is only weeks away from
calling the shots (and I mean that figuratively and not literally!)
and he should be allowed to start right now.The frequency of
reports of chilly relations between him and the very person who
bulldozed his campaign cannot be ignored and must be dealt with
summarily if peace and harmony are to prevail.Ironically, many
people, even those who did not originally agree with the Pohamba
candidature, have subsequently come round to thinking that it was
the best thing for the country, to ensure continuity, stability and
a harmonious relationship between past and present heads of
state.And now the President appears to be, if not at loggerheads,
then certainly at odds, with his successor.The last Politburo
meeting was not a happy affair, and this tension was evident.Out of
this came, among others, high-ranking Swapo officials who have said
'enough now' of the backbiting and bickering and retribution.Swapo
offered them the choices which they exercised in one way or
another, and which cannot now be held against them.Hence the calls
for reconciliation and forgiveness.No one could disagree with this
approach.No one could disagree either that the current climate of
fear cannot be allowed to continue, let alone be fuelled by people
who have strange agendas.Both outgoing and incoming Presidents made
noises about 'unity' after the last Politburo meeting.Hopefully
they meant not 'unity', because people can and must differ, but
reconciliation, in the sense that you accept the right of the other
to take a different viewpoint, whether you agree with it or not.A
Politburo meeting and possible Central Committee meeting are
scheduled for early next week.President Nujoma has to not only
support, but to be seen to be giving his full support, to his
successor in all the decision-making that lies ahead; whether it
concerns the appointment of the new Cabinet or in the approach he
needs to take to bring about reconciliation where it is so badly
needed in Party ranks.More than this, he needs to put paid, once
and for all, to some of the frightening rumours that are doing the
rounds.To further fuel the suspicion and even outright hatred that
is prevalent in some quarters is to play with the peace and
security this country has been fortunate enough to enjoy to
date.The way it is dealt with will determine both President
Nujoma's legacy as well as Pohamba's inheritance and the country's
future.