Let Them Campaign Publicly

JUST AS Namibia’s ruling party seems to make smooth progress improving its inner party democracy, something emerges to cause backward steps.

A raft of new anti-campaign rules unveiled this week cannot be in the best interest of Swapo and will definitely not serve democracy in Namibia.

Lest we be misunderstood, Swapo has made positive strides in opening up contestation within the organisation.

In 2004, several party leaders successfully opposed strongman Sam Nujoma’s wish to anoint his choice for the state presidency.

The grizzled founding president succeeded in having Hifikepunye Pohamba take over from him – but only after taking extraordinary steps that included intimidating his opponents and cutting deals for block voting.

Since then contestants seemed to have room to convince voters, and perhaps other Swapo members, of why they deserved leadership positions.

Aspiring leaders have taken on modern technology to advance their campaigns.

The new rules will reverse that progress.

At worst, the rules announced this week prevent people from engaging in an open contest of ideas, skills and principles. At best, they create so much confusion that it is not clear what one can and cannot do to be voted into a position of party leadership.

No public campaigning is allowed. Candidates cannot hold open rallies. They may canvas at meetings organised by the office of the secretary general, with the incumbent also vying for a top-four position.

The use of just about any form of modern media, including social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, as well as press releases, radio, television or SMSes, is prohibited. How that will be enforced is anyone’s guess.

“Discrediting other candidates” and making known one’s preference of leaders is also not permitted. That is in addition to barring candidates from criticising Swapo policies.

It is not clear how the grey areas will be addressed.

For instance, Swapo leaders Jerry Ekandjo and Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana have been booted from the government for stating the Swapo leadership was weak.

Ostensibly, anyone vying for a leadership position dare not campaign on an anti-corruption ticket by stating that the Fishrot scandal was carried out by key Swapo leaders and that the current top leadership was complicit in the looting.

Over the past three years, Swapo has pledged to carry out internal introspection with an eye to fixing wrongs that have occurred. But how will that be done if leaders cannot make fair and legitimate accusations of wrongdoing against one another?

Besides, why should people whose only aim is to rule Namibia not be put on public platforms to explain to Swapo members and the country’s overall population why they should be trusted to rule?

It’s a great shame that the ruling party is not willing to lead by example so that all other political groups engage in transparent inner-party politics.

Closing the space for candidates to justify why they are the best to govern is the very reason Swapo has found itself with corrupt and self-serving individuals.

People who have not been made to share their vision and promise what they can deliver have been riding on the party’s liberation legacy without any need for accountability.

In fact, not permitting people to stipulate their promises has left a vacuum for the underground canvassing of votes based on tribal, regional and other primitive group identities that should have no place in a country with more than 20 language groups, as well as complex issues of diversity.

Small wonder that dissatisfied voices are already emerging from within the Swapo ranks, alleging these will be nothing but stage-managed campaigns aimed at wheelbarrowing preferred candidates.

It’s a pity these rules were passed under president Hage Geingob who himself benefited from open debates about the possible advantages of a non-Oshiwambo president.

In 2012, Geingob was also able to use the campaign platform to rebut false claims and explain his plans.

With new Swapo campaign rules and the reluctance of leaders to engage in debates, the powerful anti-colonial slogan ‘One Namibia, one nation’ is ever-receding into an elusive and distant dream.

Accountability demands that candidates’ promises and politicking be held up to the light, and face rigorous scrutiny.

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