Choose The Right Candidates in Caprivi

I WOULD like to sensitise the Swapo residency of Caprivi Region regarding the regional elections that will take place later this year and to be extra careful in identifying suitable people to occupy or take political positions (councillors). Those who have the mandate to nominate people to stand as councillors should take care not to put the future of the people of Caprivi in jeopardy by electing weak political people. It does not mean that because you have been running with flags in the street during the campaign period of 2009 election that it is a passport to be nominated as candidate to be a councillor.

It’s important to look at the profile of a person before he/she is nominated and submitted to the Swapo head office for consideration in order to mitigate political risks and hazards and reduce vulnerability of people to such kind of nominations that may leady to political distress. A person’s profile is very important as it become a pillar of proper selection of that person. People will be blaming the Swapo party for not implementing the active manifesto, but forgetting that people who are in the driving seat of the region are not academically sound to think strategically and deliver the required services of government. But what one can speculate as to why people need to fit themselves into the political shoes is the monetary aspect of the whole business not service delivery. I am saying so because cold rumours are following slowly in the streets of Katima Mulilo that certain people will stand as councillors and looking at their behaviour and capabilities, already it appears to me they do not fit in those shoes as their feet are too small. The big question that one has to ask in this regard is, can a person who does not understand management and is not academically sound manage our beautiful region? It is not the matter of being a councillor sitting in the office; it is about service delivery to the community of the region. Nomination of friends should be avoided and capable people should be given the mandate to manage this sphere of government. It is therefore very important to note that a person who is targeted to be the candidate on the Swapo ticket must be a person with a strategic vision and academically sound. We are tired of regression. While there are political criteria that are in place to nominate a person, but those who have the political influence should be considerate. Opposition are infusing through Swapo bases slowly in the region due to the fact that people who are given the mandate are failing to deliver and anyone with quick fix promises take over. All the old councillors need to be advised that their time is over and it is the time they must step aside and watch the game. I hope they are ready for their retirement.