Political Perspective

NEW party, old party, any party, whichever, should simply try to focus on the future rather than the past.

Generally speaking, (and this applies to some more than others) we are very backward looking in Namibia. The struggle is an important part of our history, but that is where it belongs.It doesn’t have a place when it comes to planning and innovating for the future, and the largely ageing political leadership across the spectrum tends to be embroiled in what has been rather than what is still to be.NAMIBIA still needs to find its place in the global community, and this is a fast-paced world where advances in all sectors mean that we must keep up with what is happening in the world.When we constantly harp on the past, we are diverted from the task that lies ahead of us – to put our country on the map, to lead rather than to stagnate.The question of who has or doesn’t have ‘struggle credentials’, for example, has no place in contemporary Namibia.This could not, and should not, be applied to the youth, who don’t possess the ‘qualification’ that some dinosaurs still deem a necessary part of a CV.It is, after all, skills rather than political connections that will build a strong and prosperous Namibia.And although still a controversial issue in terms of war veterans and former combatants, entitlement should play no role either, especially when it comes to jobs.At the end of the day, for those who took up arms, a pension should suffice.Our ‘dinosaur’ tendencies are also reflected in the intolerance that remains embedded in Namibian politics in particular.There really should be no debate about the subject of a new political party.Our Constitution guarantees the freedom to form parties and freely associate with whomever we like, and whereas we can debate the pros and cons of policies and political personalities, we cannot deny them the right to exist.The freedom of political association also means that no one should be discriminated against for their political beliefs, and certainly retribution against those who choose another political option is absolutely unacceptable.Having said this, I do wish that those who should know better among our leadership would familiarise themselves with not only our Constitution, but more importantly, our Bill of Rights, and examine their statements and actions against the background of this most vital of all documents.They will inevitably find they are in contravention of the one thing we fought for above all else – a fair, just and equitable society free from colonial rule.Some appear to have conveniently forgotten this.An outsider would be forgiven for thinking, after a cursory glance at what is happening today, that we fought for entitlement for a privileged few! In other words, Namibia remains a society which is largely unfair, inequitable and unfree.And this is not acceptable.It is in essence betraying the spirit of the struggle.Some may have, but many more have not, and this is the balance we need to redress through our thoughts, actions and deeds, and not simply to heap more privilege upon the privileged.For the country to make the advances it needs to, it is essential that we change our mode of thinking and an infusion of youthful minds must be harnessed along the way.The majority of our political leadership, again across the spectrum, have taken us thus far, but can take us no further into the new age without having a braking effect on our development.Now we have to get the best minds among our youth involved to help set the agenda for the future.And Vision 2030 needs to take this into account or it will be an outdated plan that will never see implementation.In short, we need to open up our vistas and our horizons and our minds if we are to shape a common destiny and a place in the world today.We shouldn’t need the visit of a Hollywood couple to put Namibia’s name out there – we should be doing it with our own people and the impact they are making on the global stage.With a renewed sense of purpose to critically look at everything from our education system to our immigration policies, we must focus anew on how to get where we want to be, and truly become a success story for Africa.Our liberation struggle and our history will not be forgotten as we assert ourselves and carve a future for our children in the modern world, so we must not allow it to keep our people in darkness any longer.The struggle is an important part of our history, but that is where it belongs.It doesn’t have a place when it comes to planning and innovating for the future, and the largely ageing political leadership across the spectrum tends to be embroiled in what has been rather than what is still to be.NAMIBIA still needs to find its place in the global community, and this is a fast-paced world where advances in all sectors mean that we must keep up with what is happening in the world.When we constantly harp on the past, we are diverted from the task that lies ahead of us – to put our country on the map, to lead rather than to stagnate.The question of who has or doesn’t have ‘struggle credentials’, for example, has no place in contemporary Namibia.This could not, and should not, be applied to the youth, who don’t possess the ‘qualification’ that some dinosaurs still deem a necessary part of a CV.It is, after all, skills rather than political connections that will build a strong and prosperous Namibia.And although still a controversial issue in terms of war veterans and former combatants, entitlement should play no role either, especially when it comes to jobs.At the end of the day, for those who took up arms, a pension should suffice.Our ‘dinosaur’ tendencies are also reflected in the intolerance that remains embedded in Namibian politics in particular.There really should be no debate about the subject of a new political party.Our Constitution guarantees the freedom to form parties and freely associate with whomever we like, and whereas we can debate the pros and cons of policies and political personalities, we cannot deny them the right to exist.The freedom of political association also means that no one should be discriminated against for their political beliefs, and certainly retribution against those who choose another political option is absolutely unacceptable.Having said this, I do wish that those who should know better among our leadership would familiarise themselves with not only our Constitution, but more importantly, our Bill of Rights, and examine their statements and actions against the background of this most vital of all documents.They will inevitably find they are in contravention of the one thing we fought for above all else – a fair, just and equitable society free from colonial rule.Some appear to have conveniently forgotten this.An outsider would be forgiven for thinking, after a cursory glance at what is happening today, that we fought for entitlement for a privileged few! In other words, Namibia remains a society which is largely unfair, inequitable and unfree.And this is not acceptable.It is in essence betraying the spirit of the struggle.Some may have, but many more have not, and this is the balance we need to redress through our thoughts, actions and deeds, and not simply to heap more privilege upon the privileged.For the country to make the advances it needs to, it is essential that we change our mode of thinking and an infusion of youthful minds must be harnessed along the way.The majority of our political leadership, again across the spectrum, have taken us thus far, but can take us no further into the new age without having a braking effect on our development.Now we have to get the best minds among our youth involved to help set the agenda for the future.And Vision 2030 needs to take this into account or it will be an outdated plan that will never see implementation.In short, we need to open up our vistas and our horizons and our minds if we are to shape a common destiny and a place in the world today.We shouldn’t need the visit of a Hollywood couple to put Namibia’s name out there – we should be doing it with our own people and the impact they are making on the global stage.With a renewed sense of purpose to critically look at everything from our education system to our immigration policies, we must focus anew on how to get where we want to be, and truly become a success story for Africa.Our liberation struggle and our history will not be forgotten as we assert ourselves and carve a future for our children in the modern world, so we must not allow it to keep our people in darkness any longer.