Regional Politics: ‘The People Must Decide’

The Pohamba-led administration’s ill-conceived political ploy meant to appoint regional governors will culminate in the ‘death’ of democracy and, ultimately, pave the way to a one-party system, where people’s voices will be silenced.

Surprisingly, this intended political manoeuvring by some members of the ruling party, Swapo, is no different from the then South West African colonial style of appointing the so-called Administrator Generals in the likes of Louis Pienaar – without the input of the masses.Simply, a situation worse than AG 8! As now, there is no solicitude, this government is here to stay.Without doubt, the intent behind this political intrusion is to choke the political life out of possible political victory in some regions by members of the opposition parties, especially the coming threats from former Swapo comrades in Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP).This intended political meddling in regional affairs will rob all Namibians, including moderate Swapo members not Pohamba’s favourites, of their democratic right in choosing their regional representatives and contesting for the highest office in the region, so would the whole exercise derail, discourage and undermine the need for political participation by all citizens.And so will the office of the governor and its supporting structures of the regional council be rendered hopeless and useless as the political power of such an office would have being shattered in pieces. Meaning, instead of the governors being the voices of their respective regions with the political clout that goes with the position, the proposed law will turn the governors into bell-boys and messengers of the state – with no respect from their regions as they would be seen as political impostors.If anything,(President) Pohamba must work towards empowering the masses and strengthening different arms of government; the best way forward would be to amend the existing law so that people should directly vote for their preferred candidate, regional governor, than having other councillors casting their biased vote on who should be the region’s first citizen.All in all, Namibians must reject this narrow and shallow minded political strategy, which will also cast a shadow of doubt – regionally, nationally, and internationally – on Namibia’s commitment to democracy.So, Namibians must not forget that the concentration of all powers in a president is very dangerous.Mulife Muchali, Canadavia e-mail