Political Perspective

SO while the President has made a long-winded, but nevertheless gracious, exit from Parliament; Joe Diescho, foremost among our few black political analysts, appears to be so taken aback by events that he doesn’t quite know where to pitch his tent any more. And he’s not really the only one.

ALL in all, recent events are quite difficult for Namibians to assimilate. One gets so used to the same old status quo that when there’s a sudden change in political direction, it’s all a bit much and people start acting out of character.That’s not to say it’s a bad thing – quite the contrary – but it is nevertheless a confusing time, probably not least for President Nujoma himself.He has to be congratulated on handling his last State of the Nation speech in the manner he did.So much so, that everyone is so in awe of his apparent acceptance of the end of his era, that no-one’s really bothered themselves with the substance or content of his two-hour-plus address.I guess that’s the mark of a real politician! Not that I ever personally underestimated Nujoma in this regard in any case.He’s always had the ability to spring surprises when you least expect them.But one couldn’t resist a wry smile at all the bowing and scraping from everyone in Parliament, including opposition parties, now that the President has confirmed he’s on his way out.There remains an underlying current of scepticism.People are conscious of the fact that he’s finally said what they never expected to hear him say – but they’re unsure as to whether to really believe it.I guess the truth of the matter is that the penny’s finally dropped.Now that it is out in the open that the President is seemingly at ease with his own departure, I think it will undoubtedly promote a more relaxed political environment in which people, and especially cadres in the ruling party whose silence was seen as a prerequisite for loyalty, will be able to speak more freely.The Nujoma code of discipline that stood Swapo in good stead during the liberation struggle, was a constraint on the ruling party in a democratic Namibia.It made people tongue-tied and silent when they should have spoken out.No successor to Nujoma will be able to continue this cast-iron tradition.Whoever takes over from him, whether it is a Pohamba, Hamutenya or Angula, will never inspire quite the same amount of absolute loyalty as Nujoma did; and this is no bad thing now.It is probably an essential part of the democratisation process within the Party itself, which has been a long time coming.Now that the moment of change has come, there’s a sense of disbelief.And although I wasn’t there personally, from the reports it appears as if our formerly tough-talking political analyst Diescho, has been gobsmacked by the rapidity of unfolding events which have led finally to an acceptance that the President’s days in office are numbered – and this – by his own admission.So typical for the political opposition to so quickly forget their anti-Nujoma sentiments of the past; Diescho now has little but praise for the President he once vilified; even the Dutch Reformed Church has presented their laurels.And perhaps, as I’ve said before, it is not surprising that most are reacting this way for there’s no point in digging up skeletons when he’s no longer there to preside over the past, the present and the future.The advantage to the President himself in what has happened, is precisely this:that he will be remembered as the man who brought about the liberation of Namibia and the President who guided the independent nation into peace and stability.The machinations for a third term; the more outrageous things he’s said and done (and lest we forget, there have been those as well!) are now all but gone and forgotten.Had he fought for a fourth term, it might well have cast his role in history in a different light.One gets so used to the same old status quo that when there’s a sudden change in political direction, it’s all a bit much and people start acting out of character.That’s not to say it’s a bad thing – quite the contrary – but it is nevertheless a confusing time, probably not least for President Nujoma himself.He has to be congratulated on handling his last State of the Nation speech in the manner he did.So much so, that everyone is so in awe of his apparent acceptance of the end of his era, that no-one’s really bothered themselves with the substance or content of his two-hour-plus address.I guess that’s the mark of a real politician! Not that I ever personally underestimated Nujoma in this regard in any case.He’s always had the ability to spring surprises when you least expect them.But one couldn’t resist a wry smile at all the bowing and scraping from everyone in Parliament, including opposition parties, now that the President has confirmed he’s on his way out.There remains an underlying current of scepticism.People are conscious of the fact that he’s finally said what they never expected to hear him say – but they’re unsure as to whether to really believe it.I guess the truth of the matter is that the penny’s finally dropped.Now that it is out in the open that the President is seemingly at ease with his own departure, I think it will undoubtedly promote a more relaxed political environment in which people, and especially cadres in the ruling party whose silence was seen as a prerequisite for loyalty, will be able to speak more freely.The Nujoma code of discipline that stood Swapo in good stead during the liberation struggle, was a constraint on the ruling party in a democratic Namibia.It made people tongue-tied and silent when they should have spoken out.No successor to Nujoma will be able to continue this cast-iron tradition.Whoever takes over from him, whether it is a Pohamba, Hamutenya or Angula, will never inspire quite the same amount of absolute loyalty as Nujoma did; and this is no bad thing now.It is probably an essential part of the democratisation process within the Party itself, which has been a long time coming.Now that the moment of change has come, there’s a sense of disbelief.And although I wasn’t there personally, from the reports it appears as if our formerly tough-talking political analyst Diescho, has been gobsmacked by the rapidity of unfolding events which have led finally to an acceptance that the President’s days in office are numbered – and this – by his own admission.So typical for the political opposition to so quickly forget their anti-Nujoma sentiments of the past; Diescho now has little but praise for the President he once vilified; even the Dutch Reformed Church has presented their laurels.And perhaps, as I’ve said before, it is not surprising that most are reacting this way for there’s no point in digging up skeletons when he’s no longer there to preside over the past, the present and the future.The advantage to the President himself in what has happened, is precisely this:that he will be remembered as the man who brought about the liberation of Namibia and the President who guided the independent nation into peace and stability.The machinations for a third term; the more outrageous things he’s said and done (and lest we forget, there have been those as well!) are now all but gone and forgotten.Had he fought for a fourth term, it might well have cast his role in history in a different light.