Swapo Ya Namibia?

WHAT is in a name? Is the clinging onto a colonial name a possible cause for the persistent tribal cliques in Namibia 22 years after Namibia’s freedom and independence was achieved? Lest we forget, what goes around, comes around.

It started as the Owamboland People’s Congress (OPC) and it was renamed to become Owamboland People’s Organisation (OPO). Later on OPO became Swapo, which stands for South West Africa People’s Organisation.Swapo never grew beyond South West Africa. Simply what that means in simple English is: ‘It’s an organisation for the people of South West Africa’. The question in the minds of ‘born-frees’ is: Where in an independent Namibia does South West Africa fit?If it’s true that Swapo hates tribal homelands why does Swapo stick to a name associated with divide and rule? Firstly, the name Swapo sounds too yesterday and only reminds us of colonialism. Yet, under Swapo’s rule since 1990 many colonial names were changed, including Gloudina Street in Windhoek that was renamed Joseph Mukwayu Ithana Street. SWA is now Namibia, Kaizer Strasse is now Independence Avenue, Swawek was renamed NamPower, SWABC is now NBC, and so on.With all the above colonial name changes is Swapo not worried about missing out on the votes of born-frees and middle class by holding on to a colonial name yet determined to selectively change other colonial names elsewhere? Is it not a case of coffee calling milk a darkie or a potjiekos pot calling a kettle black?Secondly, in all material respects the name Swapo, especially to persons born after 1990 (born-frees), does not appear to have any thought process, belief system and vision encoded in it to ignite its meaning and purpose whilst using only mental arithmetic as opposed to tossing a clenched fist flinging a flag or using other visual aids to attract curiosity and interest.Worst of all the name Swapo mostly denotes a blurred geographic direction at the bottom of the conventional map of Africa with the south being a compass point that lies directly opposite north and west being a direction where the sun sets. Hence the blurred vision and direction inherent in Swapo until today.Do you perhaps want to know what happens if a born-free comes and ask what Swapo stands for? It goes like this: ‘Swapo stands for an organisation of the people of South West Africa that liberated the motherland in 1990 from colonial and apartheid imperialist puppets so much so that Koevoet Casspirs and Kandove Buffels are barred from entering omahangu fields and Swapo has a blue red and green flag and a ‘mannetjie’ as its logo…’ blah blah blah.Now you tell me what is that to a young man and a young woman (born-free) born after 1990? No wonder Swapo leaders have now started to adorn dogs in party regalia to fill stadiums and bark at political rallies. Next time you find a ballot box please make sure that your vote is your secret and that you vote for a political party with a clear future vision and focus. People can’t have a yesterday and eat it.Aluta Continua Van WykA born-free BuchterLüderitz