Political Perspective

THERE is clearly a need for a level playing field in any free and fair election, most particularly ours in late November this year. Because of this essential prerequisite, there is a need for some clarity around the issue of foreign funding/donations to political parties. A political stir was created this week because of the receipt, by President Hifikepunye Pohamba, of N$2,5 million in campaign materials for Swapo, primarily because the company in question is foreign-owned.

THE Electoral Act does not necessarily prohibit political parties from accepting outside funding, but such donations, in cash or in kind, should surely be declared by the parties which receive them. Not that Swapo have not declared this particular donation, which was done in public view, or other cash infusions in the past, but I believe the confusion around this need to be clarified in order to be fair to all.This is primarily because there have been several occasions in the past when fingers have been pointed at opposition parties, most particularly the Congress of Democrats (CoD) and Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) for allegedly receiving foreign funding, as if this were a sin, and yet Swapo has received its share.A study done by Martin Boer in 2004 for the IPPR entitled ‘The Life of the Party: The Hidden Role of Money in Namibian Politics’, reveals that ‘foreign funding is not illegal in Namibia as long as it is disclosed properly’. Political parties, including Swapo, have in fact received foreign funds.The party funding by Government, given on a pro rata basis to the various political groups represented in Parliament, is apparently not sufficient for those in question. But also because there are no specific guidelines on how these taxpayers monies should be spent, I can’t say whether they are put to good use or not.The problem with this Government funding of course, is that it does not promote political pluralism, but only assists the status-quo groups represented at national level to a greater or lesser degree. New parties starting out have to make do with what they can fund-raise to promote their aims and objectives.Personally, I don’t necessarily have a problem with outside funding for political parties, as long as these funds are declared to the broader public and that there are no strings attached. This must be absolutely clear from the outset. I say this because for example, the declaring of assets by MPs is a totally untransparent and pointless exercise because nobody knows except the President and a select few.But I do feel that priorities are skewed. We have a situation in this country where voter education, for example, is not hitting the spot and is found severely lacking. So those outsiders or otherwise who truly want to help Namibia’s democracy take root and progress, would be better served to put their donations into the vital area of empowering the electorate, rather than promoting a single political party. Like it or not, however the gesture was meant, it comes across the public immediately as an attempt to curry favour with the ruling party. And that is unacceptable, because it begins to form a basis for possible future bribes and kickbacks and possible lucrative contracts for the company in question. In addition it is clear from the event in question, that state property (i.e. the official portrait of President Pohamba, which is supposed to be for national purposes only) is used on the propaganda material and posters and that have been donated.To get back to voter education, it is clear that this is an area which is still deeply flawed, even though we’ve been independent for nearly 20 years. It is important that a message be sent to prospective donors that our country would prefer assistance that is not linked to political party agendas, but that is preferably targeted at the vitally important area of promoting an informed electorate. In addition to this, our education authorities should clearly motivate for voter education to be taught at schools as part of the History curriculum or in some or other form. This in turn would mean that we wouldn’t have to spent millions each election year on re-inventing the wheel.But confusion obviously remains around the issue of whether foreign funding is legal or illegal or whether it needs to be declared or not, whether in cash or kind.So there is a need for all parties to be equal and transparent in terms of the access they have to such outside assistance for their election campaigns or the party itself.Finally, even if it is acceptable, we obviously have to take care that there is a limit to the kind of assistance that can be received from outside, and it must be open, at all times, to public scrutiny, as voters are entitled to that information as well.