Namibian democracy has lost an independent candidate for President, as all three outsider candidates were denied access to this November’s ballot from an illegal last-minute attempt to change the rules.
Supporters of activist Jeremia Kuhepa Kaambo’s candidacy, who had blanketed the country to amass 7 000 signatures, double the required figure, were aghast to learn that rules had somehow been bent to disallow exactly what they had put in those many hard hours to achieve.
The rule is 500 signatures from seven of Namibia’s 14 regions, and these volunteers worked hard to get more, with the assumption that authorities could work to disqualify half of them to keep their candidate off the ballot. But they found a new route of destruction — changing this rule at the last minute to require 500 from all 14 regions of the country — so duplicated the work. And granting the campaign 24 hours to do so. This doesn’t stop: the next rule is that all signatures to qualify a Namibian candidate would have to be via an electronic submission system.
In short, the takeaway for Namibians is that independent voices are not welcome by the established party systems; and that our government treats our people like sheep who can’t be trusted to make decisions for ourselves.
There also is an unfair difference in the number of regions required, between political parties and the independent candidates. It is an inequity that does not serve Namibia’s public interest; and, by making nomination more difficult for only the independents, actually undermines it. The Namibian government does not provide enough support to Namibians so that they can understand the election process.
There needs to be an outreach to educate people in all regions, including giving them information about the candidate nominations. These require a certain number of supporters to be entered on registration sheets with their names and signatures. Before the November election is held, these irregularities must be corrected, even if that would mean postponing the election for some weeks. By imposing such inequities on the independent candidates, the ECN is responsible for, and should subsidise, the expenses of the corrective actions.
In the case of Kaambo, the exiled candidate had organised all this from New York City, where a global coalition of ex-patriots and Namibian neighbours in-country worked together to offer a new perspective.
He said: “When the election date arrives this November, our Namibian brothers and sisters should have a truly independent voice for change and greatness. Our country, our children and our future can be free from the past we want to stand together to demand this new future… But the Namibian authorities have decided on
their own that our independent candidacy is too threatening, so we are being disqualified after following all of their rules!
“We must reclaim our right to vote for whom we want! Let our people rise to
meet the natural beauty of our land, the richness of our valuable resources, and the promise of our heritage – all of our tribal ancestors united today as one Namibian people. We must stand for our rights!
And let us put an end to the corruption of lifelong politicians, the economic colonialism of the foreign control of our resources, and the legacy of Germany, South Africa, Angola, Cuba, Soviet Union and United Nations, to build a new legacy by and for the people of Namibia.” “Our land produces the highest-quality diamonds
in the world; we also bring forth the riches of gold, and the power of uranium from
the ground… But 40% of our three
million people live in poverty; one-third of our one million workers are without jobs, and the biggest loser in this sad math is our children who are being robbed of their rightful future of success and possibility.
“To share the light of truth has become forbidden here; to speak of the injustice, the inequality and the criminal behaviour of our elected officials, every day lands the courageous in prison. That must end. Now, we must speak up. Speak up, stand up, represent, and be counted.
More than a decade ago, we formed the advocacy organisation Emadema to challenge Namibia’s authoritarian one-party rule, and support development
efforts for building schools in impoverished areas for our poorest families. These activities resulted in political persecution where our lives were endangered, forcing many to seek political asylum in the United States of America.
From Harlem, New York City, this campaign has found support from our vibrant Namibian expatriate community. Here for economic and political freedom, we see the promise of what can be for our homeland.
True Namibian independence will come from encouraging our best minds to build our nation – no longer do we need to outsource thinking, doing, standing and breathing to the external masters imposed on us for decades. Let Namibians stand for Namibia. We demand the election authorities to allow us to be on the ballot, and if they do not, we will certainly persist. This time, next time, forever, we do not back down, only we rise!
* Jeremia Kuhepa Kaambo is an activist and politician.