Helen Zille’s visit ‘not political’

THE visit by Helen Zille, Premier of the Western Cape province in South Africa and leader of that country’s official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), should not be seen as significant in political terms and should be considered as part of a normal democratic process.

This is the main comment from Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) director Graham Hopwood and political analyst Phanuel Kapaama when asked whether Zille’s visit to Namibia could be seen as out of the ordinary.Zille came on a one-day official visit to Namibia on Tuesday and was hosted by the South African High Commission. On Tuesday, she met with Khomas Governor Samuel Nuuyoma and Trade and Industry Minister Hage Geingob.Namibian Government officials are known to shun opposition politicians from countries they have historical ties with, particularly those ruled by former liberation movements. Zille’s meeting with the two high-ranking Government officials raised eyebrows in some circles.However, both Hopwood and Kapaama think otherwise. Hopwood said that under the administration of President Hifikepunye Pohamba the Namibian Government has been more open to meeting with opposition party politicians.’It is clearly legitimate for Government officials to meet with opposition party leaders from other countries. It is part of a normal democratic process and there is nothing special about it,’ Hopwood said.He added that Zille’s meeting with Government officials in Namibia will not have any implications for the historical ties between the Swapo-led Government and the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa.Kapaama said he believes Zille is in Namibia in her capacity as Premier of the Western Cape and not as leader of the DA. ‘There could be a number of reasons why Government officials have met with her, including the improvement of relations between Namibia and the Western Cape, which is a very strategic province in South Africa,’ Kapaama said.Kapaama also believes that Zille’s meetings with Nuuyoma and Geingob are part of a ‘normal’ democratic process.