Much has been written about elections and the manner they are professed to transform and shape public participation and government reconfigurations. 

Whether organised nationally or locally, elections can be considered as conduits for governance renewals and transformational means towards a better tomorrow. However, it entirely depends on the goodwill and mindset of those elected to political office. 

Political literature has it that new governments are always cautious to take a sweeping change to governance, provoking doubt among the electorate about the newly-elected regime’s policy direction. Therefore, this article maintains that winning general elections and forming a new government may not necessarily imply that the socio-economic environment will change for the better. Nor does it guarantee a dramatic shift from the existing adversity and poverty that engulfed the nation. The assertion is that the primary purpose of elections is to afford opportunities for politicians and cronies to ascend to powers ‘and secure jobs’, thereby setting up political leadership and other government structures. 

This action and process, in the end, triggers bitterness and frustration among the electorate, who could feel their trust and confidence have been betrayed. Accordingly, proportional logic is needed to balance the consequences of your vote. The choice one makes in the ballot box may have either intended or unintended outcomes. 

In short, making a correct choice is momentous because it has a bearing on future actions. Several studies on elections have confirmed they produce a diversity of outcomes in terms of both democratic developments and alternation in government, cautioning against the issues of “why political alternation after transition does not necessarily lead to further democratization’ and speedy resolutions of people’s needs, amenities and livelihoods. 

A nation that is already independent has in place structural arrangements, policies and laws. Thus, the electorate should be mindful that despite election manifestos and promises that may turn into ‘black holes’ soon after elections, there exist policy directions on socio-economic issues, and transforming those issues may require a radical shift. 

The desire to rapidly shift from the existing socio-economic focus may require a fundamental mind alteration and lawful action. It needs a supportive system ready to adopt far-reaching policy transformation and application to pull people out of economic conundrums. In Namibia’s context, 13 November 2024 marked the beginning of a constitutional and democratic process and exercise as provided for under Article 17 (2) of the Constitution. Eligible citizens started voting for political leadership to represent and address their needs and aspirations. 

At the core of these elections are socio-economic issues. Reports revealed that despite government efforts over the past 34 years, much still needs to be done to improve people’s livelihoods, specifically among rural communities. The situation has altered political parties’ tone of message. Each political party professed itself as the beacon of hope towards rededication, recommitment, and renewals. Promises of an enhanced economy, employment creation, reformed educational system, affordable housing, and inclusive livelihoods are evident. 

However, this is not new, especially when political parties are lobbying for votes. The question the electorate should ponder is whether the 2024 general elections will deliver the much-needed change in governance, or just another politicisation strategy. Significantly, elections are about strengthening democracy and mutual governance, fostering peace and stability to shape the nation’s destiny. 

Nonetheless, as renowned political philosopher Michael Sandel wrote: “Amid the peace and prosperity, anxieties about the project of self-government could be glimpsed beneath the surface”. Election outcomes may create dictatorship, corruption, self-centeredness, and cronies. Therefore, the desired future is constitutionally and utterly at the fingertip of the electorate to cast that decisive vote on that fateful 27 November 2024, if elections are to transform their livelihoods.Elections can drive transformation when State resources are committed in accordance with guiding policies and laws. People will have trust and confidence in elections when good governance practices and accountabilities prevail in all government structures and actions. Elections can serve as a vehicle of change, based on a free and fair process and political leadership attitudes. Without focused and humane political leadership elections cannot translate into tangible and desired outcomes. Contemporary thinking rejects the notion of mechanically political followers, thus, persuading the electorate to judiciously analyse political parties’ manifestos, and be literate on what politics can offer. The rarely used adage of “ignore the reality at your peril”, finds relevance here. 

The government you elect on 27 November will be at your disposal for the next five years. 

In the final analysis, the electorate should engage in self-education on the positive and negative effects of elections, with an understanding that voting outcomes are two-fold. First, elections can strengthen political institutions and public participation. If democracy prevails, elections may promote global recognition of the State, thus increasing foreign direct investment due to peace and stability. Democratic elections promote mushrooming of political parties which weakens contentious political ideologies. Though they are not necessarily means towards change, they may be used as yardsticks to inform the extent to which election outcomes can transform the government and nation. 

On the contrary, at times elections produce visible distressing effects, characterised as unintended consequences that irritate the electorate quality of life. Voters may not receive the services they deserve due to poor governance. Once they secure the mandate to assume office, politicians may choose the authoritarian route to self-enrichment by using State machinery to amass wealth with impunity. Elections may be used as tools to change laws for dictatorial regimes to cling to power and persecute predecessors, thereby creating an abysmal environment in the country. Worst of all, elected political leadership may choose to keep a distance from the very people who elected them into power, resulting in poor service delivery and poverty. For elections to serve as vehicles of change they need solemn reflection and well-informed minds to yield inclusive outcomes. Therefore, the electorate should apply their mind correctly and conscientiously before entering the polling booth on 27 November 2024. May the deserving contender prevail! 

*Tuhafeni Helao (PhD) is a retired academic. Areas of interest are politics, governance, comparative governance, public service delivery and policing.