Namibia a paradise in decay: Diescho

NAMIBIA has become just another African country – a paradise in decay, political analyst Joe Diescho said this week.

Diescho said Namibia was heading in the wrong direction because power had corrupted many of its leaders. “Seventeen years after Independence we keep on saying that we shall not allow colonialism to return.What if we were not oppressed,” he said during a public lecture in Windhoek this week.According to Diescho, some of Namibia’s top officials would never have been leaders if it was not for colonialism, as they had hardly shown any true leadership qualities over the past 17 years.”You can’t argue with them.They will ask: ‘Are you an imperial agent?’” Diescho said.He said Namibia’s leaders have failed to get over blaming colonialism.”When it rains, it’s colonialism.When it doesn’t, it’s colonialism.When we destroy each other, we are very resourceful but when we build a school, we go to England (to get builders),” he said.He said Namibia struggled to separate the Government from the ruling party and has paid dearly for it.”We hear that this is not a Pohamba Government.That this is a Swapo Government.Yes, leaders of a political party don’t matter but come party meetings, they all wear scarves which almost strangle them,” Diescho said.He said Namibian leaders have inherited a culture of wealth and conspicuous consumption.”We drive expensive cars and motorbikes but none of us can fix them.We have to get consultants.We wear expensive watches but never look at them to be punctual.There is no culture to drill discipline,” he said.For him, Namibia is a paradise in decay – “neglected …not taken care of” and driving that are “the Mafikizolos – the Johnny-come-latelies or those who joined yesterday”.”For years now we have been talking about Vision 2030.But there is no administration for Vision 2030.Instead, we have a Ministry for Veterans.We dream separate dreams and we hide separate fears,” Diescho said.He said one of the main reasons for Namibia’s stagnation was because those in power cannot “behave poor”.According to Diescho, Namibia with a population of 1,9 million has 27 Cabinet members, the same size as South Africa with a population of 46 million.”The United States would have six million ministers if they did it our way,” he said.The political analyst said “survival is success” in Namibia, something that showed a clear lack of self-respect and understanding that resources were not limitless.”Once they get into power, they become monarchic.Treating citizens like subjects and forgetting that they are supposed to be their leaders,” he said.According to Diescho, Namibia has a myriad of political managers.”Leadership is from within.Leaders inspire people and believe in the future while managers control people to behave.Managers fear the future and works on people.They dread the possibilities and fear others’ success,” Diescho said.He said Namibia has failed to provide enough leadership over the past 17 years to show that the country was not just another African country.”The hallmark of a great democracy is to include all the people.Here a vibrancy of debate is lacking,” he said.He cited a recent Swapo Central Committee statement attacking Phil ya Nangoloh of the National Society for Human Rights as a classic example of misdirected leadership.”How can we validate that the number one enemy, 17 years down the road, is Phil ya Nangoloh? What is our future? Where do we hide the ‘hidden agenda’ for 17 years,” he said.He said leaders needed to move away from “politics of the belly” where they regard themselves as accountable only to the appointing authority (President) and disregard the calls of the citizens.”We eat first and then morality follows.Let’s engage our leaders.We cannot go on like this.Let’s train our MPs (Member of Parliament) to listen to the constituencies.The President is not the constituency,” he said.Diescho’s public lecture was organised by the Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID).”Seventeen years after Independence we keep on saying that we shall not allow colonialism to return.What if we were not oppressed,” he said during a public lecture in Windhoek this week.According to Diescho, some of Namibia’s top officials would never have been leaders if it was not for colonialism, as they had hardly shown any true leadership qualities over the past 17 years.”You can’t argue with them.They will ask: ‘Are you an imperial agent?’” Diescho said.He said Namibia’s leaders have failed to get over blaming colonialism.”When it rains, it’s colonialism.When it doesn’t, it’s colonialism.When we destroy each other, we are very resourceful but when we build a school, we go to England (to get builders),” he said.He said Namibia struggled to separate the Government from the ruling party and has paid dearly for it.”We hear that this is not a Pohamba Government.That this is a Swapo Government.Yes, leaders of a political party don’t matter but come party meetings, they all wear scarves which almost strangle them,” Diescho said.He said Namibian leaders have inherited a culture of wealth and conspicuous consumption.”We drive expensive cars and motorbikes but none of us can fix them.We have to get consultants.We wear expensive watches but never look at them to be punctual.There is no culture to drill discipline,” he said.For him, Namibia is a paradise in decay – “neglected …not taken care of” and driving that are “the Mafikizolos – the Johnny-come-latelies or those who joined yesterday”.”For years now we have been talking about Vision 2030.But there is no administration for Vision 2030.Instead, we have a Ministry for Veterans.We dream separate dreams and we hide separate fears,” Diescho said.He said one of the main reasons for Namibia’s stagnation was because those in power cannot “behave poor”.According to Diescho, Namibia with a population of 1,9 million has 27 Cabinet members, the same size as South Africa with a population of 46 million.”The United States would have six million ministers if they did it our way,” he said.The political analyst said “survival is success” in Namibia, something that showed a clear lack of self-respect and understanding that resources were not limitless.”Once they get into power, they become monarchic.Treating citizens like subjects and forgetting that they are supposed to be their leaders,” he said.According to Diescho, Namibia has a myriad of political managers.”Leadership is from within.Leaders inspire people and believe in the future while managers control people to behave.Managers fear the future and works on people.They dread the possibilities and fear others’ success,” Diescho said.He said Namibia has failed to provide enough leadership over the past 17 years to show that the country was not just another African country.”The hallmark of a great democracy is to include all the people.Here a vibrancy of debate is lacking,” he said.He cited a recent Swapo Central Committee statement attacking Phil ya Nangoloh of the National Society for Human Rights as a classic example of misdirected leadership.”How can we validate that the number one enemy, 17 years down the road, is Phil ya Nangoloh? What is our future? Where do we hide the ‘hidden agenda’ for 17 years,” he said.He said leaders needed to move away from “politics of the belly” where they regard themselves as accountable only to the appointing authority (President) and disregard the calls of the citizens.”We eat first and then morality follows.Let’s engage our leaders.We cannot go on like this.Let’s train our MPs (Member of Parliament) to listen to the constituencies.The President is not the constituency,” he said.Diescho’s public lecture was organised by the Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID).