Political perspective

THERE’S a definite tilt in the balance of power within Swapo, and former President Sam Nujoma is, by all accounts, not in the ascendancy.

Not only has he had to bow to Politburo pressure on the resignation from Parliament of his henchman, Paulus Kapia, but he’s also been press-ganged into condemning arch-Nujoma propagandist, ‘Ananias Nghifitikeko’. To add insult to injury, there’s added duress that he himself relinquish the reins of power in the ruling party.THE once all-powerful Nujoma is not in a comfortable position right now, and judging by the recent political blows against him, indications are that the pressure against him will further intensify in the future.That’s not to say that the battle is over.In fact, I’d be surprised if this was the case.The former President is a man one should never underestimate and he will “not go gently into that good night”, as renowned poet Dylan Thomas once said.Nujoma is a fighter, and always has been, but the pressure on him has never been as great as it is right now.It may well be that his personal war is nearly over.Among other things, Nujoma has now been forced to go on the record in condemning the notorious ‘Ananias’, the author of the libelous and divisive e-mail campaign that coincided with the Nujoma campaign against former Foreign Minister, Hidipo Hamutenya.I say ‘forced’ because only political pressure would have made him publicly term ‘Ananias’ a “national security threat” when he spearheaded a dirty campaign against the perceived enemies of the former President, most obvious of all, Hamutenya.Nujoma has never pronounced against ‘him’ since the campaign began.’Ananias’ took his pro-Nujoma crusade just a little too far when he accused Hamutenya of ordering Swapo fighters to return to Namibia on April 1 1989, that fateful day when the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 435 was to commence.Only one person could have issued that command and it was not Hamutenya.But now, we hope, ‘Ananias’ will be unmasked.Further than that, he is not worth any further description.Nujoma did not want Kapia to go, despite the allegations against him.Kapia was his man, and the former Youth League Secretary did the former president’s bidding in many ways in the past.But Nujoma had to go along with the majority of the Politburo on this one.Then Nujoma had to face a delegation of Swapo ‘old guard’ including Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, Ben Amathila, Libertina Amathila and Mzee Kaukungua, to ask him to step aside as President of Swapo to give incumbent President Hifikepunye Pohamba the space to do what he’s been mandated to do, and this must have been an unhappy moment for Nujoma.He is not likely to accede lightly to this request though, unless his hand is forced further.And this could also be the case.If and when Hamutenya decides to take up his seat in Parliament to take up the vacancy left by Kapia, this could be the ultimate blow to the former President who fought tooth and nail to relegate Hamutenya to the political wilderness.Lest Nujoma supporters judge others too harshly vis-à-vis the abovementioned events, it is important to emphasise here that he will always command respect, and adulation even, for his unique contribution to the liberation of this country.That is unarguable and history will bear this out.Most, if not all of Swapo, even those who now believe his time is nigh, will agree.But the deep divisions and enmity that have come about since, particularly from the onset of the anti-Hamutenya campaign, must be brought to an end, and Nujoma has not played a conciliatory role in this regard.It is time now for his chosen successor to get on with the job at hand, and he cannot do so effectively with continued interference.Nujoma did not listen when many people told him to retire gracefully.It’s too late for that now, and he’s made too many enemies among his own, but he’s getting the message that his time is up.Politics is, indeed, a dirty business.But the internecine fighting must surely come to an end.Out of all the mess, though, I hope will emerge a more democratic Swapo.To add insult to injury, there’s added duress that he himself relinquish the reins of power in the ruling party.THE once all-powerful Nujoma is not in a comfortable position right now, and judging by the recent political blows against him, indications are that the pressure against him will further intensify in the future.That’s not to say that the battle is over.In fact, I’d be surprised if this was the case.The former President is a man one should never underestimate and he will “not go gently into that good night”, as renowned poet Dylan Thomas once said.Nujoma is a fighter, and always has been, but the pressure on him has never been as great as it is right now.It may well be that his personal war is nearly over.Among other things, Nujoma has now been forced to go on the record in condemning the notorious ‘Ananias’, the author of the libelous and divisive e-mail campaign that coincided with the Nujoma campaign against former Foreign Minister, Hidipo Hamutenya.I say ‘forced’ because only political pressure would have made him publicly term ‘Ananias’ a “national security threat” when he spearheaded a dirty campaign against the perceived enemies of the former President, most obvious of all, Hamutenya.Nujoma has never pronounced against ‘him’ since the campaign began.’Ananias’ took his pro-Nujoma crusade just a little too far when he accused Hamutenya of ordering Swapo fighters to return to Namibia on April 1 1989, that fateful day when the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 435 was to commence.Only one person could have issued that command and it was not Hamutenya.But now, we hope, ‘Ananias’ will be unmasked.Further than that, he is not worth any further description.Nujoma did not want Kapia to go, despite the allegations against him.Kapia was his man, and the former Youth League Secretary did the former president’s bidding in many ways in the past.But Nujoma had to go along with the majority of the Politburo on this one.Then Nujoma had to face a delegation of Swapo ‘old guard’ including Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, Ben Amathila, Libertina Amathila and Mzee Kaukungua, to ask him to step aside as President of Swapo to give incumbent President Hifikepunye Pohamba the space to do what he’s been mandated to do, and this must have been an unhappy moment for Nujoma.He is not likely to accede lightly to this request though, unless his hand is forced further.And this could also be the case.If and when Hamutenya decides to take up his seat in Parliament to take up the vacancy left by Kapia, this could be the ultimate blow to the former President who fought tooth and nail to relegate Hamutenya to the political wilderness.Lest Nujoma supporters judge others too harshly vis-à-vis the abovementioned events, it is important to emphasise here that he will always command respect, and adulation even, for his unique contribution to the liberation of this country.That is unarguable and history will bear this out.Most, if not all of Swapo, even those who now believe his time is nigh, will agree.But the deep divisions and enmity that have come about since, particularly from the onset of the anti-Hamutenya campaign, must be brought to an end, and Nujoma has not played a conciliatory role in this regard.It is time now for his chosen successor to get on with the job at hand, and he cannot do so effectively with continued interference.Nujoma did not listen when many people told him to retire gracefully.It’s too late for that now, and he’s made too many enemies among his own, but he’s getting the message that his time is up.Politics is, indeed, a dirty business.But the internecine fighting must surely come to an end.Out of all the mess, though, I hope will emerge a more democratic Swapo.