Political Perspective

SOMETIMES I wonder what planet our politicians are living on. They seem to have separated themselves from reality in more ways than one. It is worrying.

While they are quick to demand better remuneration, housing and perks and complain about a host of other things affecting themselves and their own lives simply “because they are national leaders”, they are clearly not acting in the best interests of the people of Namibia, among others, because they don’t do their homework. This is evident from some of the recent discussions in parliament.

Recently Swapo backbencher Kazenambo Kazenambo went on his habitual rant, claiming government agents were tapping phones and snooping on those perceived of political differences. He added that it was only under “dictatorial, totalitarian and abusive regimes” that this sort of thing was done.

He is not the first to complain about surveillance. But all these same MPs were ominously silent when the Communications Bill aka “spy bill” was passed. Even the architect of the Bill, information minister Joel Kaapanda, could mot resist pointing out that some of those who now complain about phones being tapped, were part and parcel of the legislators when the Communications Act went through Parliament in 2009.

As far as I can recall, it went through smoothly and without any objections, despite the fact that others, like myself and Ombudsman, John Walters, gave evidence at the hearings to warn about the dangers of the ‘interception’ clause of the Bill and to urge that it be scrapped. Which all goes to show that MPs are seemingly OK with even the most draconian measures, that is, until these impact upon themselves! In future when they give the go-ahead to legislation designed to protect the ruling hierarchy yet which has negative social consequences for the people, they should remember that they themselves may be the target of those same laws one day.

Who wasn’t taken aback to learn that these same MPs, most of whom have been in office for a considerable period of time already, feel they need lessons in basic good manners? ‘Kilimanjaros’ aside, it is really hard for the public to hold people in high esteem who don’t even know how to behave themselves.

‘Honourables’ they may call themselves, but I certainly cannot bring myself to do so. It is an open secret that ‘doggie bags’ have been historically catered for at public functions, so the government knows full well that this has been happening and the greedy recipients take this as their due.

Now they apparently need training in ‘etiquette and protocol’ so as not to pile up their plates and otherwise embarrass the government and the country through their actions. What a needless waste of resources when they can at least make the effort to teach themselves what they already ought to know.

Then we have those who still, after all these years, expect journalists, especially ‘State media’, to report on them verbatim, even when, in the words of one minister, they “talk nonsense”. They really fail to understand the role of the media, and to accept that coverage should be about newsworthiness of what is said or done.

One of them claimed that because of his ‘liberation credentials’, he does not deserve to be discriminated against. The same MPs would be quick to agree that freedom of expression be put at risk because of what more ordinary mortals may say on social media, for example, while they themselves demand carte blanche.

Even more serious are faux pas exhibited in the the recent utterances in parliament by health minister Richard Kamwi about sourcing nurses uniforms from China. Not only is this a disgrace given earlier government promises to make uniforms locally and in so doing create sorely needed employment, but also because this was done outside the tender process and under the cloak of secrecy.

Saying at the time that this was a “done deal”, Kamwi has since, in the face of some uproar, done a complete reversal. “Having listened to the outcry of some Namibians, we have consulted and we are going back to the drawing board …” he said in a statement yesterday.

Why was the consultation not done in the first place, and what about those wasteful trips to China to look at fabric etc. The question that needs answering is why, with millions spent on the manufacture of uniforms, whether for hospital staff, soldiers or police, or even school children, that training and capacity has not been created to do this here? While Kamwi clearly did not do his homework, and other MPs have a lot to answer for in terms of their ineptitude, there is simply no accountability and no one with the guts to bring them to book.

These are just some examples which speak of the calibre (or lack thereof) of many of our so-called national representatives.

I find it depressing to think that even with national elections ahead of us, we face the prospect of a ‘new’ parliament with all the same old faces who contribute so little to the advancement and progress of this nation.

Follow me on Twitter: @GwenLister1

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