Testing Times

SWAPO pioneer Andimba Toivo ya Toivo couldn’t be more correct when he says Namibia is at the crossroads.

In less than four weeks, Namibians will know who is destined to become the country’s new President. While some would like us to believe the race for succession in Swapo is strictly a party affair – not least Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba, one of the party’s three candidates – it is not.Far from it.Barring an event of seismic proportions, the ruling party’s candidate will be Namibia’s President-elect.For this and other reasons it is vital that democracy and transparency inform this transition period.Swapo and its candidates need to be the standard bearers.In all likelihood what happens in the next 30 days will set the tone for the term of office of the second President of the Republic of Namibia.The initial signs have been promising.Reports have emerged of muscular debate, and the drawing of lines, at recent Swapo Politburo and Central Committee meetings that appear to have laid a solid foundation for how succession should be handled.It’s probably a first for Africa that a liberation movement has thrown open its leadership race and is conducting it in the harsh glare of public scrutiny – as uncomfortable as this might seem at times.It is part of our growing process as a young democracy.That structures were put in place and not compromised, and that a strong personality, in this case President Nujoma, was not allowed to ride roughshod over processes, are signs of political maturity and bode well for the future.What Swapo has done, as one of the three candidate’s supporters has said, should also serve as an example to other political parties.The run-up to the extraordinary congress is, therefore, a crucial period of crystallising and cementing the democratic process.It calls for the highest degree of openness in the way the race for the nomination is conducted.It not only needs to be open to scrutiny, but needs to be seen to be open to scrutiny.As has been pointed out by one of the ruling party’s Presidential candidates, Minister Nahas Angula, many Namibians are feeling unsettled, even confused, by the pending departure of President Nujoma.This is another reason why the process needs to be transparent and to be seen to be firmly rooted in democratic traditions.It is imperative that Namibians are reassured; they need to know that while the lobbying for pole position may be robust, at the end of the day, whoever is chosen will work in the interests of all Namibians, not particular groups or vested interests.All three Swapo candidates need to spell out their vision for the nation, and to engage in debate.For this reason, it is disappointing that, so far, candidate Pohamba has stayed aloof.Wrongly or rightly, it raises the question of whether he would be a reclusive President.Rightly or wrongly, it looks like candidate Pohamba is seeking refuge in the President’s shadow.It is reported that, even within party structures, he is letting President Sam Nujoma make the running on his behalf.The President is within his rights to lobby for his successor.However, the President is said to be harnessing State apparatus in support of his preferred candidate.There has also been talk of ‘a fear factor’:that some leaders, particularly in the regions, are afraid to be seen to be backing anyone other than Nujoma’s choice.This should not be the case.In fact, it militates against the groundwork laid at the recent meetings of top ruling party structures.Let the President back the candidate of his choice, but let the candidates themselves stand up and be counted in public.The final choice should be based on issues rather than personalities and who backs who.The nation wants to hear from the men who would be President.Namibians want the full Monty, the whole mopani worm.They want to know the calibre of the candidates, what their views are, what their vision is, where they will lead our nation.The Namibian people deserve nothing less.While some would like us to believe the race for succession in Swapo is strictly a party affair – not least Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba, one of the party’s three candidates – it is not.Far from it.Barring an event of seismic proportions, the ruling party’s candidate will be Namibia’s President-elect.For this and other reasons it is vital that democracy and transparency inform this transition period.Swapo and its candidates need to be the standard bearers.In all likelihood what happens in the next 30 days will set the tone for the term of office of the second President of the Republic of Namibia.The initial signs have been promising.Reports have emerged of muscular debate, and the drawing of lines, at recent Swapo Politburo and Central Committee meetings that appear to have laid a solid foundation for how succession should be handled.It’s probably a first for Africa that a liberation movement has thrown open its leadership race and is conducting it in the harsh glare of public scrutiny – as uncomfortable as this might seem at times.It is part of our growing process as a young democracy.That structures were put in place and not compromised, and that a strong personality, in this case President Nujoma, was not allowed to ride roughshod over processes, are signs of political maturity and bode well for the future.What Swapo has done, as one of the three candidate’s supporters has said, should also serve as an example to other political parties.The run-up to the extraordinary congress is, therefore, a crucial period of crystallising and cementing the democratic process.It calls for the highest degree of openness in the way the race for the nomination is conducted.It not only needs to be open to scrutiny, but needs to be seen to be open to scrutiny.As has been pointed out by one of the ruling party’s Presidential candidates, Minister Nahas Angula, many Namibians are feeling unsettled, even confused, by the pending departure of President Nujoma.This is another reason why the process needs to be transparent and to be seen to be firmly rooted in democratic traditions.It is imperative that Namibians are reassured; they need to know that while the lobbying for pole position may be robust, at the end of the day, whoever is chosen will work in the interests of all Namibians, not particular groups or vested interests.All three Swapo candidates need to spell out their vision for the nation, and to engage in debate.For this reason, it is disappointing that, so far, candidate Pohamba has stayed aloof.Wrongly or rightly, it raises the question of whether he would be a reclusive President.Rightly or wrongly, it looks like candidate Pohamba is seeking refuge in the President’s shadow.It is reported that, even within party structures, he is letting President Sam Nujoma make the running on his behalf.The President is within his rights to lobby for his successor.However, the President is said to be harnessing State apparatus in support of his preferred candidate.There has also been talk of ‘a fear factor’:that some leaders, particularly in the regions, are afraid to be seen to be backing anyone other than Nujoma’s choice.This should not be the case.In fact, it militates against the groundwork laid at the recent meetings of top ruling party structures.Let the President back the candidate of his choice, but let the candidates themselves stand up and be counted in public.The final choice should be based on issues rather than personalities and who backs who.The nation wants to hear from the men who would be President.Namibians want the full Monty, the whole mopani worm.They want to know the calibre of the candidates, what their views are, what their vision is, where they will lead our nation.The Namibian people deserve nothing less.