New Era journalist in Keetmanshoop Matheus Hamutenya yesterday had a candid interview on a wide range of issues with the Swapo Party’s regional coordinator in //Karas, Mathew Mumbala.
What are the main tangible developments you would say the Swapo-led government has brought to the region since Independence?
Just by looking at 1989 and looking at the 90s up to 2016 you can see major developmental changes brought by the Swapo Party government. You can touch, feel and see for yourself. If you were here before Independence then you will realise that there is a change and there has been development in Namibia and //Karas Region in particular. The Aus-Rosh Pinah road was not there. Oranjemund road is there, Aussenkehr grape plantations were not there. And there are a lot of people employed there, not forgetting the mall and the Unam southern campus. Namibia did not have a university until after Independence and we started with the main campus in Windhoek, but now we have campuses all over the regions, including //Karas. Hospitals and clinics have also been built.
There is a perception that the South is left out when it comes to development? What’s your take on that? And what could be making people believe the South is marginalised?
Those are people’s opinions, those that never travelled, they just hear, so if you want to compare //Karas with other regions it’s better to travel to those regions and when you come back you will tell the truth that what you hear is not true. //Karas is not left out in terms of development. It’s treated equally and it is even maybe more developed than other regions. If you look up to now in the North, there are schools that don’t have electricity, or even chairs, but can you tell me of a school here that doesn’t have electricity? That perception is not true. Really, we should be honest with ourselves.
What would you say has been the most remarkable achievement of the ruling Swapo Party in the region over the years?
The South has all along had problems of tribalism and so on, but now as we speak //Karas Region is united forever under the banner of the Swapo Party leadership. Look at last year’s election performance and this is where you can see that we are now going in one direction. We only used to rule two or three local authorities, but after last election we captured eight local authorities and we left only one for democracy purposes.
What would you say are the major developmental challenges affecting the region and how does the Swapo-led government aim to alleviate these?
Yes, as a house you always have challenges and that one you can’t run away from. In terms of development we’re still having issues – such as the road between Keetmanshoop and Aroab – that is a long distance and we’re appealing to the government to construct that road, because it’s the longest gravel road in the region now and needs to be covered. Poverty is also a problem and you can’t deny that because really it’s there, but solving these problems is a collective effort with the private sector and the government. Poverty can only be alleviated through agriculture. We need to have production of food and have food security, so let we have Neckartal Dam finished and let us put irrigation projects there and we can alleviate poverty in the region.
What are your political aspirations? Do you aim to become a councillor or hold any position in the party?
Well, in Swapo we don’t appoint ourselves and in Swapo we don’t desire to be anywhere we want, because it depends on the comrades, the leadership of the party and general members. So, we are elected. I can’t say I want to be where… the party has structures and I have to go through those structures and wherever I end up it is the party that puts me there. But if I’m selected into a certain position then I will never deny the right of the people. If the people think I’m the right person, then why should I deny that?
You raised eyebrows when you said government money should only be spent on Swapo members. Do you think that’s correct?
My statement is correct and I have the right to defend it, based on the fact that I’m a politician and when the money is spent on individuals it’s wrong. I never intended that a specific hotel must not be given those big events. Yes, you can give to big hotels, but for small things where you can just put up a tent and call people from Tseiblaagte that have small businesses [such contracts] must be given to these small businesses. When are we going to empower our upcoming businesses? This is the question, so I think the media quoted me out of context, because what we want is the empowering of others, so at least small things can be allocated to small businesses here.
What’s your take on AR as a movement and the land issue in general?
I don’t deal with the repositioning movement. I’m not part of it and I’m not a member, but it is a democratic country, so everyone has the right to establish whatever they want to, but you can’t establish something within someone else’s house.
What do you mean by within someone’s house?
You know, for example, this movement was established within Swapo and as Swapo we are saying, ‘please no’. Swapo is a house and as a child you can just say OK, I’m grown up and I’m going to make my own house and that’s what we’re saying. But yes, we have a problem with the land and that we can’t deny, so there is a need to address the land issue, but it should be addressed with government mechanisms and done so structurally. No one should just stand up and say they will occupy land. Where have you ever heard that? Even at the village where we grew up there is a headman and you can’t just come and put your mahangu field anywhere. What about in towns? We must respect the authority. Even the Bible says ‘respect the authority’, ‘ask and get’, that’s all. The land issue should be addressed, but in a manner that doesn’t create chaos.
What’s your take on the many consultations undertaken by the president, governors and local councillors?
The consultations are good so that when you go back to your office you have information from the ground and not hearing it from others. So, I welcome the move of the town hall meetings by the President. It was a good initiative.
People are saying ‘we have voted you into power based on your manifesto, so how do you come back to us seeking ideas after the election?’ Does this show the party is clueless on what its aims are?
Remember, when we draw up the manifesto it’s the party leaders that come together without any consultations, because it’s a political document to go and convince the people to vote, but now you have to come back and say how can we implement this? So to say the party is clueless on its aims is a blatant lie.
There is a plan to build a N$2 billion parliament. Do you think government has got its spending priorities right?
“Who are the taxpayers? And to whom does the parliament belong? The construction of a parliament was not decided this year or last year. It has been the plan all along to build a parliament for the people of Namibia. I don’t even think we really deserve to call the current one a parliament, because that thing was just for administration, making laws and then you take them to South Africa. So, why should we keep to the colonial mentality? Why can’t we have our own house? Just as we say ‘let’s amend the laws to fit the Namibian people’, let us build a parliament fitting the Namibian people. It’s a priority. Listen here, this year at the opening of the parliament I was shocked and surprised to see His Excellency opening the parliament in tents at parliament gardens. We should be thankful that Namibia is a peaceful country. You can’t open the parliament in an open space like that. Are we really protecting the President? Or are we just taking him as an ordinary person? If so, then why can’t we just go to the stadium and open the parliament, because that one was just a rally. That’s our security fears also, so the parliament should be built. But I’m not a member of parliament and it’s up to them to know and look at their budget, and if the budget allows it then let the parliament be constructed. If funds do not allow, then it’s another thing.
Some members of parliament have been under fire for differing with the party’s stance on certain issues. Do you think MPs should follow party directives, even if they do not support certain motions?
Yes, because Swapo has a caucus house and when you have this – if there is a directive given – you should give your opinion there within the house and then after that you have to follow the directives. But remember, it’s your democratic right, so I can’t say they can’t say anything and I don’t even know who told you people that Swapo was questioning some of the MPs, because as a regional coordinator I have never received anything from the secretary general or the President blaming Swartbooi or blaming whoever. That’s from the media, so you must tell us. But you should remember that you are no more from the //Karas Region. You are a parliamentarian now, so talk about national issues and you have your right to say whatever you think, because there was no directive from the party. That’s why I want the media to tell us where they got it from that MPs were called to order by the party. Which structure called them? Is it the politburo, the central committee or regional structures? Which one?