Reactionary Or Man Of Courage?

WHEN the former Minister of Trade and Industry got banished from the ruling party, he hit back in words heretofore unknown in the Namibian political vocabulary.

He accused some leaders of his former party of “behaving like a religious cult, dictators and anonymous poison-pen writers”. To some he is a reactionary; to others he is “a man of courage”.But the most important thing about Nyamu’s clash with his bosses is that it is an indication of the lack of inner-party democracy that is prevalent in almost all political parties in Namibia.The idea of inner-party democracy calls for leaders of political parties to endorse the decisions and wishes of their ordinary members rather than ordinary members rubber-stamping their leaders’ choices and decisions.However, it is common knowledge in Namibian politics that fielding opinions different from your leader is considered to deserve punishment by victimisation or banishment from a political party.Lack of inner-party democracy means opportunities for practical exercise of the freedoms of speech and conscience are not afforded to all members and leaders of the party and as a result candidates for public positions are, for all practical purposes, the “bodyguards” of the interests of the party president.This state of affairs sows seeds for Kamikaze, not only to the individual political parties but to the nation as a whole, since a free exercise of the freedoms of speech and conscience are the cornerstones of development; both human and economic.A man who is freely able to conscientiously express his thoughts, opinions and ideas without fear of being victimised is all a nation needs because nations are built on ideas of ordinary men and women.How do we expect our fellow party members and compatriots to express creative ideas if they are always worried by the possibility that their ideas will be classified as “reactionary”? We should bear in mind that, sometimes, good ideas can be contrary to the ideas of one’s mentor.There is hardly any sane human being who can respect and cherish a social union in which his right to freedom of speech and conscience is scoffed at.It is therefore important that leaders of political parties should start effecting a change in leadership styles or else our efforts to advance, socio-politically and economically, will count for nothing.So, in the spirit of democracy and in particular the freedom of speech and conscience, Nyamu’s reaction has been long overdue and deserves a big cheer.D Uuyuni waKamati MarientalTo some he is a reactionary; to others he is “a man of courage”.But the most important thing about Nyamu’s clash with his bosses is that it is an indication of the lack of inner-party democracy that is prevalent in almost all political parties in Namibia.The idea of inner-party democracy calls for leaders of political parties to endorse the decisions and wishes of their ordinary members rather than ordinary members rubber-stamping their leaders’ choices and decisions.However, it is common knowledge in Namibian politics that fielding opinions different from your leader is considered to deserve punishment by victimisation or banishment from a political party.Lack of inner-party democracy means opportunities for practical exercise of the freedoms of speech and conscience are not afforded to all members and leaders of the party and as a result candidates for public positions are, for all practical purposes, the “bodyguards” of the interests of the party president.This state of affairs sows seeds for Kamikaze, not only to the individual political parties but to the nation as a whole, since a free exercise of the freedoms of speech and conscience are the cornerstones of development; both human and economic.A man who is freely able to conscientiously express his thoughts, opinions and ideas without fear of being victimised is all a nation needs because nations are built on ideas of ordinary men and women.How do we expect our fellow party members and compatriots to express creative ideas if they are always worried by the possibility that their ideas will be classified as “reactionary”? We should bear in mind that, sometimes, good ideas can be contrary to the ideas of one’s mentor.There is hardly any sane human being who can respect and cherish a social union in which his right to freedom of speech and conscience is scoffed at.It is therefore important that leaders of political parties should start effecting a change in leadership styles or else our efforts to advance, socio-politically and economically, will count for nothing.So, in the spirit of democracy and in particular the freedom of speech and conscience, Nyamu’s reaction has been long overdue and deserves a big cheer.D Uuyuni waKamati Mariental