Political Perspective

WHILE the Auditor General has made noises around the fact that political parties receiving Government subsidies need to account for these monies, which they do not currently do, it is quite evident that they’ve all gone to ground for the time being. This again illustrates the fact that after the flurry of rallies and complaints in and about the media coverage of some and not others by certain parties, they only really get going when elections are imminent.

THESE parties must accept the common accusation that they’re not really there for their supporters or those they want to reach out to, if they do not keep in constant contact with the electorate, and not only when it’s time for the polls.From the ruling party with its over two-thirds majority, to those contesting the 2009 election results in court; and the other ‘fly-by-nights’ that came into being overnight on the eve of the last national election; there’s been an ominous silence since December.Even though I’m a committed democrat, I sometimes wonder about the point of elections if there is not an ongoing process to accompany them. Political parties only seem to care about their support bases and constituencies when they want their votes, and then forget about them until the next time comes around.Over six months have passed since Namibians went to the polls, and the electorate must be left wondering as to why they’re not special anymore. There’s been a lot happening which parties that cared could have pronounced themselves upon, but failed to do so. I’m not necessarily calling for star rallies of the kind that are only usually held when elections are nigh, but smaller meetings, daily interactivity with members and supporters at the very least. Some party offices have already closed down and some operate only from the Parliament building, leaving one wondering how they keep in touch with their support base, if at all.Apart from the Parliamentary presence of some, there appears to be little or no contact with the people. And isn’t this really the time that some of the parties, especially those seriously contesting the national vote, could get to work quietly yet effectively in areas they’ve failed to conquer, and re-visit those which they have?Seems to me a real lost opportunity. The ruling party, which succeeded in garnering the overwhelming majority of the vote, should be touching base with its supporters, soliciting their views and opinions and criticisms on the governance to date since March 20. They should also be giving report-backs on the delivery or not of promises made, especially in regions where they did not perform well last November. It is not as if there are no issues. A quick perusal of our SMS pages show that people countrywide have problems of all kinds, and they could really do with a sympathetic ear and remedial action if at all possible!Do they therefore really care, after all? Do the people only mean something to political parties when elections come around and then its an awfully big deal as to who you support, and lots of ‘no-go’ zones and territorial and familial disputes and questioned loyalties and patriotism, but right now they don’t give a damn.And if I remember correctly, one of the reasons parties making it into the Parliament are given stipends, is precisely to assist them in mobilizing and going about their business, and ultimately promoting political pluralism.So the good question is, of course, where does the money go if not promoting access to the people and communities of Namibia and putting priorities on the national agenda?Against this background, it must be remembered that regional and local government elections will be held this November, and I guess it’s only a matter of time before the various parties belatedly jump into action in a frantic attempt to mobilise the voters. Small wonder they’re not taken as seriously as they may wish to be, Swapo included.For the rest of the time, like it or not, it is the media who are keeping the people informed and putting issues close to the hearts of Namibians on the agenda, and not the political parties who are supposed to represent them and who have been given a mandate by the people they neglect most of the time.So while the political elite are travelling abroad and raking in those S&Ts at the expense of the national pocket, the people are left to stew in their own juices until the next time they are paid some attention when the parties wake up to the fact there’s another election at hand!The ruling party is undoubtedly complacent and knows its got the majority by the short-and-curlies, but this could be the best possible opportunity for the opposition to show their worth. The challenge is for them to do it.