The ECN deadline for the nominations as independent candidates has lapsed. Soon, we will know who the independent candidates are vying for election in the various constituencies and region of this great God’s country. 

The euphoria around standing as a candidate for local authorities or regional councils raises several questions. For starters, there are a handful of people that have never quite shown any interests in politics, or governance. These are journalists, technocrats and even pensioners. 

Yet, they are standing to be voted as candidates – either through their adopted political homes, or on their own. They, and others in the same boat, are asking Namibians to trust them with their regional councils or local authorities and by ushering them into power. 

It will be a sad day in Namibian politics and the socio-economic sphere when election candidates get motivated more by the urge to fill their own stomach, as opposed to serving the nation. Serving as a councilor should never be used as a source of income, or a means to an end. It is about being a servant of the people; selfless and giving. 

Being a councilor should never be about fame or raising a person’s personal profile. It should be about the hunger for putting food on the table of those less fortunate in the different initiatives that you take on. 

The person voting for you will not be doing it as a fashion statement, or conformity to a trend. Such person will be voting for change – for the better. One such voter is the single mother manning a stall by the side of the dusty gravel road that leads to the informal settlement. The same informal settlement has been her home for years and she yearns for better days. 

With her vote, she is entrusting you with the mandate of delivering on your promise for a better tomorrow for her and her children. She wants better access to markets to get her produce at cheaper rates for better income prospects. She wants to be assured that her children would not face the same obstacles growing up. She just needs a breather, and you are whom she is turning to for that. 

The middle-income earner who cannot afford a house of his own will be looking at you for better days. All he wants is a roof over his head and a place to call his own. By placing that cross in the same line as your name he is committing to your agenda; an agenda he hopes will benefit him too. 

The pensioner who has dedicated her life to the cause for justice and has done her part in contributing to the country’s economy will now be looking at you for ease and comfort during her retirement. 

As can be seen, that cross means more than just choosing who gets to step into the office. It’s a reflection of trust. It’s a vote of confidence, and the candidate should not dare disappoint. 

If serving the masses; if putting others’ interest first and if sacrificing for the good of the country is not what you are up to, then simply put your hand down and allow others to step onto the plate. 

Should you make it out of the blocks and onto the podium, remember those that put you there. Their legitimate interests are what brought you there; serve them and build a prosperous future for all. That shouldn’t be difficult; that’s what you are currently advocating for.