SWAPO and its presidential candidate Dr Hage Geingob dispatched their rivals with utmost ease in last week’s election, with both receiving record votes never seen in the country before.
This was not just a mere vote – it was a serious vote of confidence which should be viewed strictly in that context, and which should be reciprocated with quality service delivery.
A record vote. A record rate of service delivery. That should be Swapo’s motto for the next five years. In some parts of the country, voters withstood the test of the burning African sun. Others, such as in Eenhana, endured heavy rains just to cast that vote.
In fact we have in our possession photos of Namibians sleeping at polling stations, just to make their voices heard.
It does not matter who these individuals eventually voted for. Whether it was Geingob or Martin Lukato’s NDP party, the point is that Namibians have hope for the future and we must not shock them with non-deliverance.
The next five years must serve as another opportunity for the country and those ruling it. An opportunity to shine, not to stumble under the pressure of the nation’s legitimate expectations.
It is an opportunity to pivot back to the founding principles of the movement called Swapo. The principles that propelled Swapo to its first electoral win in 1989.
This means putting the needs and aspirations of the masses ahead of any other priority. If those needs and aspirations are met excellently, and on a broader basis, Swapo can rule the country for another 100 years – we dare say it.
For starters, Swapo needs to dirty its hands with some serious housekeeping. The party needs to drive home a clear message that unity – and not factionalism and internal fights – is what will enable a smooth rate of delivery.
Those in positions of responsibility must dirty their hands with work assigned to them, and not with the blood of their nemeses.
And where a party cadre is implicated in evident cases of corruption, then patronage and homeboy politics must be set aside.
Swapo must be seen to be serious, yet fair, in its fight against self-enrichment by individuals who – with their selfish deeds – deny society broader benefits from national resources.
If the ruling party wants to keep breaking records at the electoral booth like it did last week, attending to people’s needs swiftly will keep such hopes alive.
Namibians have, in an extraordinary fashion, decided that Geingob is the commissar they trust with their plight.
The president-elect, upon taking office, must guard the hopes and aspirations of all Namibians – true to the spirit of his famous “nobody would be left out” slogan.
An educated and tested patriot, Geingob epitomises the exact president Namibia needed from this point of our lifetime as a nation and, seemingly, our prayers have been heeded.
To many, the president-elect is a heaven-sent saviour whose timely arrival must help suppress corruption, deliver quality services and guard the ruling party from infiltration by incompetent and opportunistic self-serving individuals.
There are many out there – so many that even the blind can see their presence.
Geingob made it clear in his response to this newspaper yesterday that he has already started the groundwork to addressing existing “lapses and laxity in terms of administration”.
By any measure, that is a big statement of intent.
We, just like more than 80 percent of Namibians who voted for both Swapo and Geingob, are pregnant with hope. We are excited about the prospects for the future. Our excitement is informed by the outcome of the just-ended elections.
And now hard work!