Political Perspective

IT is significant to note that Swapo fought a decades-long struggle for the independence of Namibia literally on the smell of an oil rag, meaning, for those not familiar with this expression, that they did so with scant means at their disposal.

And despite having to ‘beg, steal or borrow’, they waged a very successful campaign on both military and diplomatic fronts. So I’m somewhat taken aback by the fact that the ruling party now seems to feel that in order to operate effectively, it needs buildings and edifices at a cost of millions to do the job.THE party is very defensive about its plans, too.This week they were granted a second extension of two months by the Windhoek City Council to pay for an erf in Khomasdal which is earmarked for their regional headquarters, as well as to incorporate a commercial complex.Mid-last year the cost of the erf would have been N$682 000, but the price has surely escalated since then? Whether in fact they have the money to buy the erf, let alone to build the envisaged complex, is probably doubtful at this stage.The party does have assets and companies and financial interests in several projects, but how well these are currently being managed, and whether they’re in profit, is not known at this stage.Since their interests are fairly extensive, one would imagine that if they were profitable, at least the proceeds could go a long way towards funding these building plans, and they could do it a lot faster than by holding fundraising braais for the purpose! And among Swapo’s various companies, certainly Kalahari Holdings, among others, has had its share of negative publicity in the recent past.In addition there’s the envisaged new Swapo HQ which Swapo President Sam Nujoma has proposed.The cost of this also runs into millions, in fact an estimated N$149 million.What’s wrong with the still relatively new one in Katutura, some are asking.And again, what are the present priorities for the ruling party, and is this truly one of them? The current divisions in the party are certainly taking their toll, and it would seem to the ordinary onlooker as though this is one of the things that should constitute a priority.Edifices are one thing, but when Swapo is in tatters, buildings won’t help matters much! The pretence around Swapo’s ‘unity’ has at this point virtually been exhausted.There are clearly problems which won’t take money, but instead substantial input from leadership, to even attempt to solve at this stage.And to go back to the struggle: Swapo was far more effective then.That is not to say they don’t still pull in the votes, for they do, but this may just be increasingly because there are so few viable options to the ruling party, at least in the perception of the electorate.That they were united then is a fact beyond reproach.That they were effective too, is unquestionable.The dedication, hard work and commitment as well as single-minded purpose were certainly contributory factors in hastening our self-determination.Then, as opposed to now, Swapo operated thanks to the commitment of its leadership and support base, supplemented by the goodwill of host countries and donor countries who believed in their cause.In short, it is the people, rather than the trappings, that make a cause effective.On the surface the commitment appears to be there – the turning out in Swapo colours, the lip service to the ruling Party – but is the heart truly in it anymore? Certainly the transformation from liberation movement to political party has changed the psyche of Swapo somewhat, and this is neither unexpected nor unusual.The desire for self-determination and independence was the glue that held it all together in the past, and that’s now gone and in some cases even forgotten.But the party remains powerful, albeit divided, and if it could just re-prioritise and/or re-visit the roots, I have the feeling that it would not need to be distracted by the costly diversions that distract it from confronting the core issues facing the leadership and ruling party as a whole.So I’m somewhat taken aback by the fact that the ruling party now seems to feel that in order to operate effectively, it needs buildings and edifices at a cost of millions to do the job.THE party is very defensive about its plans, too.This week they were granted a second extension of two months by the Windhoek City Council to pay for an erf in Khomasdal which is earmarked for their regional headquarters, as well as to incorporate a commercial complex.Mid-last year the cost of the erf would have been N$682 000, but the price has surely escalated since then? Whether in fact they have the money to buy the erf, let alone to build the envisaged complex, is probably doubtful at this stage.The party does have assets and companies and financial interests in several projects, but how well these are currently being managed, and whether they’re in profit, is not known at this stage.Since their interests are fairly extensive, one would imagine that if they were profitable, at least the proceeds could go a long way towards funding these building plans, and they could do it a lot faster than by holding fundraising braais for the purpose! And among Swapo’s various companies, certainly Kalahari Holdings, among others, has had its share of negative publicity in the recent past.In addition there’s the envisaged new Swapo HQ which Swapo President Sam Nujoma has proposed.The cost of this also runs into millions, in fact an estimated N$149 million.What’s wrong with the still relatively new one in Katutura, some are asking.And again, what are the present priorities for the ruling party, and is this truly one of them? The current divisions in the party are certainly taking their toll, and it would seem to the ordinary onlooker as though this is one of the things that should constitute a priority.Edifices are one thing, but when Swapo is in tatters, buildings won’t help matters much! The pretence around Swapo’s ‘unity’ has at this point virtually been exhausted.There are clearly problems which won’t take money, but instead substantial input from leadership, to even attempt to solve at this stage.And to go back to the struggle: Swapo was far more effective then.That is not to say they don’t still pull in the votes, for they do, but this may just be increasingly because there are so few viable options to the ruling party, at least in the perception of the electorate.That they were united then is a fact beyond reproach.That they were effective too, is unquestionable.The dedication, hard work and commitment as well as single-minded purpose were certainly contributory factors in hastening our self-determination.Then, as opposed to now, Swapo operated thanks to the commitment of its leadership and support base, supplemented by the goodwill of host countries and donor countries who believed in their cause.In short, it is the people, rather than the trappings, that make a cause effective.On the surface the commitment appears to be there – the turning out in Swapo colours, the lip service to the ruling Party – but is the heart truly in it anymore? Certainly the transformation from liberation movement to political party has changed the psyche of Swapo somewhat, and this is neither unexpected nor unusual.The desire for self-determination and independence was the glue that held it all together in the past, and that’s now gone and in some cases even forgotten.But the party remains powerful, albeit divided, and if it could just re-prioritise and/or re-visit the roots, I have the feeling that it would not need to be distracted by the costly diversions that distract it from confronting the core issues facing the leadership and ruling party as a whole.