Time To Reform Namibia

ALLOW me to comment on Hidipo Hamutenya’s well-articulated piece of writing in The Namibian of Friday, 20 April 2007, titled ‘Thoughts on our Democracy’.

Some Namibian politicians are too quick to side-step real issues facing the nation. Our politicians – who should be the representatives and voice of the voiceless – must come clean rather than play political games with the electorate.Why should people like Hidipo Hamutenya ask questions on Namibia’s pilot project “The Namibian Democracy”, rather than give us answers on what the problem is? For how long are we going to entertain the notion of a growing democracy, if it is not a failed undertaking? Is it not possible for ‘HH’ to spell out to the nation what hampers Namibian democracy from reaching its peak – rather than to always find lame excuses, whilst knowing what Namibia’s obstacles are to the realisation of our dream.A Government for the people by the people.Surely, after 15 years of independence it must not be too difficult to tell which side of the boat is leaking.Or is it one of those state secrets that the prize for the truth is to head towards the “Exit Highway” as is demonstrated by Swapo’s top guns who have been subjected to humiliation and demotion? Therefore, asking questions as Hidipo Hamutenya has done is not being honest.This should not be just another academic exercise, but telling it as it is.We all know Swapo is running the Government and any failure in our governmental system – be it democracy, economic empowerment, HIV-AIDS, crime, corruption, abuse of human rights and torture – should lie squarely with the one in “solely” control.And that is to whom all the blame should go too.How do we expect democracy to flourish if Swapo’s head has no understanding of what such a concept means nor has he at any point demonstrated “maturity” in building his political party, let alone a country.Are we so blind as not to see the prize for democracy in an independent Namibia under Nujoma? What happened to the likes of the same Hidipo Hamutenya, Kaire Mbuende, Hage Geingob, Jesaya Nyamu, Ignatius Shixwameni, Ben Ulenga, Abraham Ndumbu and maybe even Ben Amathila? Who has pushed all these to a point of frustration leading to even self-imposed exile in the United States of America, burning Swapo letters in public, formation of Congress of Democrats, expulsion, resignation and demotion of Namibia’s political best? And not forgetting ‘you can fire me from Swapo, but cannot fire me from Namibia’.Asking who was the root cause of all that? Does it take a rocket scientist to say two words “Sam Nujoma”, or ‘HH’ must tell us otherwise.Like Mugabe is the obstacle to Zimbabwean democracy, so is Nujoma to Namibia.Ben Amathila’s exit, as hinted by The Namibian’s Gwen Lister, and many others who chose to be silent, is attributed to the same trouble-free Swapo.A good man has had it up to his neck.For the price of freedom and democracy is hard to pay.Again, it is within the same framework that current Namibian President Pohamba cannot deliver 100%, because the same person is still exercising his power, making Pohamba look like a rubber stamp.Can Pohamba “unban” The Namibian today? Yes, if Nujoma was not there.Why can’t the Hidipos push for such a motion in Parliament? Can democracy function under such a dark cloud? Talking about the fair distribution of resources, which regions in Namibia have fairly enjoyed the benefits of independence? To mention but a few, the railway line, Bank of Namibia, High Court, state-of-the-art “UNAM centre”, Police Training Centre, Upcoming MVA structures and many more.Do we understand the economic returns for this kind of systems in place as compared to Caprivi’s envisaged waterfront? When its residents are being sheltered in tents, and an individual had to offer schoolbooks and equipments as if there is no government.What games are we playing? Are Namibians from other regions so brainwashed with “One Namibia One Nation”, that they fail to question and challenge such injustices.Or does talk equate with losing your next pay cheque and promotion? If the likes of ‘HH’ cannot stand up and call a spade a spade rather than beat about the bush – who will be Namibia’s hope to change the status quo? Diescho is just another “flat tyre” in Namibia’s political life – so are hundreds of Namibians from Caprivi that suffer today.Mentioning the separation of power is a farfetched reality in Namibia, we know of the Caprivi 13 and how the so-called separation of power works in an independent Namibia.The constitutional ideas are not worth the papers they were written on.Namibians unfortunately are misled into believing “ours” is the best constitution – seen against which others? Look at the USA and Canada to see and understand democracy at work, offering the best of constitutions around the world.For Namibia, it is all separate, but within one umbrella.It is time the marginalised and disadvantaged Namibians called for a constitutional reform that would give power back to the people, with representatives in parliament who account to their constituencies rather than please and honour individuals.Mulife Muchali Vancouver, CanadaOur politicians – who should be the representatives and voice of the voiceless – must come clean rather than play political games with the electorate.Why should people like Hidipo Hamutenya ask questions on Namibia’s pilot project “The Namibian Democracy”, rather than give us answers on what the problem is? For how long are we going to entertain the notion of a growing democracy, if it is not a failed undertaking? Is it not possible for ‘HH’ to spell out to the nation what hampers Namibian democracy from reaching its peak – rather than to always find lame excuses, whilst knowing what Namibia’s obstacles are to the realisation of our dream.A Government for the people by the people.Surely, after 15 years of independence it must not be too difficult to tell which side of the boat is leaking.Or is it one of those state secrets that the prize for the truth is to head towards the “Exit Highway” as is demonstrated by Swapo’s top guns who have been subjected to humiliation and demotion? Therefore, asking questions as Hidipo Hamutenya has done is not being honest.This should not be just another academic exercise, but telling it as it is.We all know Swapo is running the Government and any failure in our governmental system – be it democracy, economic empowerment, HIV-AIDS, crime, corruption, abuse of human rights and torture – should lie squarely with the one in “solely” control.And that is to whom all the blame should go too.How do we expect democracy to flourish if Swapo’s head has no understanding of what such a concept means nor has he at any point demonstrated “maturity” in building his political party, let alone a country.Are we so blind as not to see the prize for democracy in an independent Namibia under Nujoma? What happened to the likes of the same Hidipo Hamutenya, Kaire Mbuende, Hage Geingob, Jesaya Nyamu, Ignatius Shixwameni, Ben Ulenga, Abraham Ndumbu and maybe even Ben Amathila? Who has pushed all these to a point of frustration leading to even self-imposed exile in the United States of America, burning Swapo letters in public, formation of Congress of Democrats, expulsion, resignation and demotion of Namibia’s political best? And not forgetting ‘you can fire me from Swapo, but cannot fire me from Namibia’.Asking who was the root cause of all that? Does it take a rocket scientist to say two words “Sam Nujoma”, or ‘HH’ must tell us otherwise.Like Mugabe is the obstacle to Zimbabwean democracy, so is Nujoma to Namibia.Ben Amathila’s exit, as hinted by The Namibian’s Gwen Lister, and many others who chose to be silent, is attributed to the same trouble-free Swapo.A good man has had it up to his neck.For the price of freedom and democracy is hard to pay.Again, it is within the same framework that current Namibian President Pohamba cannot deliver 100%, because the same person is still exercising his power, making Pohamba look like a rubber stamp.Can Pohamba “unban” The Namibian today? Yes, if Nujoma was not there.Why can’t the Hidipos push for such a motion in Parliament? Can democracy function under such a dark cloud? Talking about the fair distribution of resources, which regions in Namibia have fairly enjoyed the benefits of independence? To mention but a few, the railway line, Bank of Namibia, High Court, state-of-the-art “UNAM centre”, Police Training Centre, Upcoming MVA structures and many more.Do we understand the economic returns for this kind of systems in place as compared to Caprivi’s envisaged waterfront? When its residents are being sheltered in tents, and an individual had to offer schoolbooks and equipments as if there is no government.What games are we playing? Are Namibians from other regions so brainwashed with “One Namibia One Nation”, that they fail to question and challenge such injustices.Or does talk equate with losing your next pay cheque and promotion? If the likes of ‘HH’ cannot stand up and call a spade a spade rather than beat about the bush – who will be Namibia’s hope to change the status quo? Diescho is just another “flat tyre” in Namibia’s political life – so are hundreds of Namibians from Caprivi that suffer today.Mentioning the separation of power is a farfetched reality in Namibia, we know of the Caprivi 13 and how the so-called separation of power works in an independent Namibia.The constitutional ideas are not worth the papers they were written on.Namibians unfortunately are misled into believing “ours” is the best constitution – seen against which others? Look at the USA and Canada to see and understand democracy at work, offering the best of constitutions around the world.For Namibia, it is all separate, but within one umbrella.It is time the marginalised and disadvantaged Namibians called for a constitutional reform that would give power back to the people, with representatives in parliament who account to their constituencies rather than please and honour individuals.Mulife Muchali Vancouver, Canada