Garoeb on the stump

WITH each election, Chief or King Justus //Garoeb, President of the United Democratic Front, has the daunting task of explaining to the voters that his party is not only for the Damaras, but for all Namibians.

“People keep on asking me whether the UDF is a Damara party or not. I respond with a ‘yes and no’.’Yes’ because if UDF is in an area where there are mainly Damaras, it will look like that and ‘no’ because it might not seem the same when we are in another area,” he responds diplomatically.//Garoeb and his party have gone the extra mile this time around to show that they operate at national level.”We have put up candidates in the Caprivi and Oshivelo to send out a message that we are ready to accommodate all the people,” he said.Lately, the party’s blue,white and green colours – the same as those of the Damara tribe, which has caused some friction in the past – are the least of the worries for //Garoeb and his supporters.”We need to put up a good performance.To challenge the lion in its own den is not an easy thing.The playing field is not good because of the resources that we have but we are ready to challenge Swapo,” he said.His eyes seem to fix on Swapo because of the historical ties between the ruling party and the Damara Council.”He is the only candidate who has worked closely with Swapo and has a proven track record.He has also promised to have leaders of other parties in his Cabinet,” says a close ally for over 20 years, Alex Maletsky.But the deep-voiced traditional leader-cum-politician is realistic about his chances of leading Namibia.”UDF is a party of realistic leadership.We are not yet geared to win the national elections but will do much better than in the past,” said //Garoeb.A precocious //Garoeb, fresh from the University of South Africa, cut his political teeth in 1971 when he was elected as a member of the Damara Advisory Council, taking over as chairman six years later – after the death of Chief David Goreseb.The rebellious //Garoeb refused to participate in the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference and took the Damara Council into the opposition Namibia National Front (NNF), of which he was elected President.He reconstituted the Damara Council as a political party in 1980 and joined the Multi-Party Conference three years later, but withdrew after 12 months when he also announced the Damara Council’s support for Swapo.In 1984 he led a group to a Swapo conference in Lusaka, Zambia.”He was instrumental in the release of many Swapo leaders from prisons in Namibia.He was the middle man between Swapo and the South African regime in many ways.Let [President Sam] Nujoma confirm that before leaving office,” states the youthful Eliphas Khano //Khoaseb, who has studied his leader’s life story.But the alliance crumbled and //Garoeb founded the United Democratic Front in 1989 when some Swapo members returned from exile, telling of their hellish experiences in Swapo’s dungeons.//Garoeb wants voters to see the UDF as an alternative political home for all Namibians.But he must first get rid of the party’s label as an organisation for Damaras.”We have Owambo-speaking comrades but they refuse to join us at the public rallies because they get intimidated and ostracised.What does it tell you about freedom of association in Namibia,” complains Maletsky.I respond with a ‘yes and no’.’Yes’ because if UDF is in an area where there are mainly Damaras, it will look like that and ‘no’ because it might not seem the same when we are in another area,” he responds diplomatically.//Garoeb and his party have gone the extra mile this time around to show that they operate at national level.”We have put up candidates in the Caprivi and Oshivelo to send out a message that we are ready to accommodate all the people,” he said.Lately, the party’s blue,white and green colours – the same as those of the Damara tribe, which has caused some friction in the past – are the least of the worries for //Garoeb and his supporters.”We need to put up a good performance.To challenge the lion in its own den is not an easy thing.The playing field is not good because of the resources that we have but we are ready to challenge Swapo,” he said.His eyes seem to fix on Swapo because of the historical ties between the ruling party and the Damara Council.”He is the only candidate who has worked closely with Swapo and has a proven track record.He has also promised to have leaders of other parties in his Cabinet,” says a close ally for over 20 years, Alex Maletsky.But the deep-voiced traditional leader-cum-politician is realistic about his chances of leading Namibia.”UDF is a party of realistic leadership.We are not yet geared to win the national elections but will do much better than in the past,” said //Garoeb.A precocious //Garoeb, fresh from the University of South Africa, cut his political teeth in 1971 when he was elected as a member of the Damara Advisory Council, taking over as chairman six years later – after the death of Chief David Goreseb.The rebellious //Garoeb refused to participate in the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference and took the Damara Council into the opposition Namibia National Front (NNF), of which he was elected President.He reconstituted the Damara Council as a political party in 1980 and joined the Multi-Party Conference three years later, but withdrew after 12 months when he also announced the Damara Council’s support for Swapo.In 1984 he led a group to a Swapo conference in Lusaka, Zambia.”He was instrumental in the release of many Swapo leaders from prisons in Namibia.He was the middle man between Swapo and the South African regime in many ways.Let [President Sam] Nujoma confirm that before leaving office,” states the youthful Eliphas Khano //Khoaseb, who has studied his leader’s life story.But the alliance crumbled and //Garoeb founded the United Democratic Front in 1989 when some Swapo members returned from exile, telling of their hellish experiences in Swapo’s dungeons.//Garoeb wants voters to see the UDF as an alternative political home for all Namibians.But he must first get rid of the party’s label as an organisation for Damaras.”We have Owambo-speaking comrades but they refuse to join us at the public rallies because they get intimidated and ostracised.What does it tell you about freedom of association in Namibia,” complains Maletsky.