Political Perspective

OH MY, how the mighty have fallen! The news that Swapo has suspended Paulus Kapia, Secretary General of the Swapo Youth League, is historic indeed.Most people expected repercussions in the wake of his Avid involvement and the allegation that he was the recipient of a kickback, but this probably wasn’t one of them.

He jumped before he was pushed from his Ministerial post, possibly in a bid to avert further actions against him; and his suspension from SPYL wasn’t unexpected in the wake of this. Charges, and probable arrest, were foreseen as the next step, but that hasn’t happened yet.Instead, Swapo has dealt him what probably constitutes the most telling blow of all – the noisiest ‘comrade’ of them all has been publicly punished.SO, will all of the above, including his eviction from Parliament, constitute the political demise of one of the staunchest allies of former President Sam Nujoma; a man who was the architect of the infamous ‘list of comrades’ who in his view weren’t; who sat in judgement of anyone and everyone who didn’t comply with his reactionary way of thinking; and who was often at the centre of controversies as he lashed out at all and sundry both in and outside the ruling party in his role as SPYL Secretary General? His ‘struggle’ credentials were questioned and he caused a rift of opinion within Swapo itself as to whether he should be brought to book over his often outrageous statements; yet he not only survived but managed to get himself elevated to Ministerial status via the list of 10 candidates chosen by outgoing President Nujoma.He seemed an ‘untouchable’ no matter how bizarre his claims, among others that Nored had switched the power off while President Nujoma addressed a rally in the North.No one in the ruling party was prepared to tackle him, at least not until he became embroiled in the Avid debacle concerning the missing Social Security Commission (SSC) millions and the inquiry that has netted some, but not all, of those responsible for the financial shenanigans with State monies.And since the revelations at the above inquiry, the odds have been stacked against him to the point where he today no longer enjoys the protection of the former head of state; he is out as SPYL Secretary General as well as Parliament and he has no powerbase at present from which to launch his vitriolic attacks.Is this a classic example of how power corrupts? Possibly.He got himself involved in financial wheeling and dealing and matters about which he knew little or nothing, and this sealed his fate.Of course, if things work in his favour, Swapo may reinstate him, but it will never be the same and his credibility has been seriously dented for all time.And again, an ironic twist in that the man who is next on the list to replace him in Parliament, if indeed he accepts the seat, is none other than Hidipo Hamutenya, former Foreign Minister, who became one of Kapia’s prize targets when the latter served the will and agenda of former President Nujoma.It is not known at this stage if Hamutenya will take up the offer, but if he did, it would certainly be a principled blow to the Nujoma-Kapia campaign, which wanted him out at all costs.At one stage, it even seemed as though they had got their way.This columnist was one of Kapia’s favourite targets, but I am not without compassion for a man who, had he been taken to task by Swapo leadership at an earlier point, might not have got the feeling he was some kind of untouchable.When dangerously megalomaniacal tendencies become evident in someone, they should be curbed before they do serious damage.In Kapia’s case, he tarnished the image of the country; the reputations of many he spuriously attacked; and last but not least, Swapo, whose name he dragged through the mud in the process.Whatever happens now, and whether or not the final blow of an ignominious arrest is brought upon a man who once thought he was invincible, Kapia’s demise is proof enough that the principle of ‘jobs for comrades’ certainly doesn’t work in anyone’s favour, not least of all, that of the country.Charges, and probable arrest, were foreseen as the next step, but that hasn’t happened yet.Instead, Swapo has dealt him what probably constitutes the most telling blow of all – the noisiest ‘comrade’ of them all has been publicly punished.SO, will all of the above, including his eviction from Parliament, constitute the political demise of one of the staunchest allies of former President Sam Nujoma; a man who was the architect of the infamous ‘list of comrades’ who in his view weren’t; who sat in judgement of anyone and everyone who didn’t comply with his reactionary way of thinking; and who was often at the centre of controversies as he lashed out at all and sundry both in and outside the ruling party in his role as SPYL Secretary General? His ‘struggle’ credentials were questioned and he caused a rift of opinion within Swapo itself as to whether he should be brought to book over his often outrageous statements; yet he not only survived but managed to get himself elevated to Ministerial status via the list of 10 candidates chosen by outgoing President Nujoma.He seemed an ‘untouchable’ no matter how bizarre his claims, among others that Nored had switched the power off while President Nujoma addressed a rally in the North.No one in the ruling party was prepared to tackle him, at least not until he became embroiled in the Avid debacle concerning the missing Social Security Commission (SSC) millions and the inquiry that has netted some, but not all, of those responsible for the financial shenanigans with State monies.And since the revelations at the above inquiry, the odds have been stacked against him to the point where he today no longer enjoys the protection of the former head of state; he is out as SPYL Secretary General as well as Parliament and he has no powerbase at present from which to launch his vitriolic attacks.Is this a classic example of how power corrupts? Possibly.He got himself involved in financial wheeling and dealing and matters about which he knew little or nothing, and this sealed his fate.Of course, if things work in his favour, Swapo may reinstate him, but it will never be the same and his credibility has been seriously dented for all time.And again, an ironic twist in that the man who is next on the list to replace him in Parliament, if indeed he accepts the seat, is none other than Hidipo Hamutenya, former Foreign Minister, who became one of Kapia’s prize targets when the latter served the will and agenda of former President Nujoma.It is not known at this stage if Hamutenya will take up the offer, but if he did, it would certainly be a principled blow to the Nujoma-Kapia campaign, which wanted him out at all costs.At one stage, it even seemed as though they had got their way.This columnist was one of Kapia’s favourite targets, but I am not without compassion for a man who, had he been taken to task by Swapo leadership at an earlier point, might not have got the feeling he was some kind of untouchable.When dangerously megalomaniacal tendencies become evident in someone, they should be curbed before they do serious damage.In Kapia’s case, he tarnished the image of the country; the reputations of many he spuriously attacked; and last but not least, Swapo, whose name he dragged through the mud in the process.Whatever happens now, and whether or not the final blow of an ignominious arrest is brought upon a man who once thought he was invincible, Kapia’s demise is proof enough that the principle of ‘jobs for comrades’ certainly doesn’t work in anyone’s favour, not least of all, that of the country.