By Graham Hopwood
TEN years ago, IPPR researchers Christie Keulder and Tania Wiese coined the phrase ‘a democracy without democrats’ for Namibia. The expression was a reference to an Afrobarometer finding that only just over half of Namibians favoured democracy over other systems such as military or one-party rule.
The conclusion was worrying – a large proportion of Namibians did not see much value in the democratic system that had been put in place after decades of valiant struggle against apartheid colonialism. Democratic consolidation appeared to be faltering.
Since then regular Afrobarometer surveys have found that more and more Namibians think democracy is preferable to any other form of governance. In last year’s survey it was 74 percent – up from 64 percent in 2012. It is somewhat reassuring then that in 2014 almost three-quarters of Namibians now recognise democracy as the best system. This trend is the same for younger respondents as it is for older Afrobarometer respondents. In 2014, only 6 percent of younger Namibians said they did not understand what democracy is.
However, there were some Afrobarometer responses that gave pause for thought – 36 percent of respondents felt they should avoid criticising government; 37 percent said it was more important to have a government that can get things done even if the public has no influence over what it does; and 43 percent felt that too much media reporting on negative events, like government mistakes and corruption, only harms the country. These results indicate that high proportions of Namibians are not yet willing to exercise their full democratic rights even if they generally feel free in the country (91 percent said they were free to say what they think).
One of the issues facing Namibia at the start of the 21st century is that while many people have started to recognise the importance of democracy, the inevitable follow on – robust plurality and diversity in opinions – is not seen as quite such a good development. Instead there is a tendency for citizens to feel they should go with flow of the commonly expressed view or always concur with the views of the ruling political elite. It is seen as too much trouble and possibly counter-productive for individuals to express a different position from the view emanating from the top. This is not a phenomenon affecting only the ordinary, impoverished, disempowered Namibian. Even the country’s academics have failed to pronounce themselves on the country’s deleterious research laws and regulations, as noted recently by Professor Andre du Pisani in comments on academic freedom.
For Namibia to make progress in terms of democratic development, we need to see a reduction in the percentage of people that feel they should avoid criticising government from 36 percent to a figure that is negligible. Critical debate is crucial if good governance is to be achieved. Furthermore, we can only forge sound and workable policies out of the crucible of open dialogue. All too often government figures are quick to claim critics “have no mandate” instead of listening carefully to the points being made.
There are other reasons why we need more critical thinkers. Namibia is a democracy where over 80 percent of the electorate voted for one party in the last election. Yet, increasingly we need independent people to serve on the range of oversight bodies that are supposed to ensure that abuses of power do not take place. Such bodies cannot be stocked primarily by people who are either too timid or too concerned with showing off their political loyalty to take up impartial positions. Already many of these institutions – some of them constitutional – are widely seen as compromised and weak. They are quick to clear the politically connected of any charges or accusations. They dodge and delay making any findings that could be seen as critical of the powers that be. It takes an unusually enlightened form of political leadership to create and give succour to institutions intended to oversee, check, and call to account those who have power.
Namibia remains one of Africa’s most stable and enduring democracies – something we can all be proud of. But having consolidated democracy over the past 25 years – there is a sense that we are now entering a new phase of democratic development. Younger, less partisan Namibians are starting to make their voices heard on a range of issues. Increasing urbanisation (Namibia is now split 50:50 in terms of the rural/urban divide) is fuelling rising frustrations (witness the recent protests over access to land and housing) and creating opportunities to raise demands for more accountable government. Leaders will have to become better listeners – more responsive and less dismissive. Democracy can only flourish when there is a critical mass of democrats willing to make the system work.
• Graham Hopwood is the Executive Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)