The Namibian elections of 2024 have turned an important corner into the future of the country’s political landscape. It is a time when symbolic versus effective leadership is put under close scrutiny.

It is in such a context that as Namibians get ready to go to the polls, it also becomes very important that one sees the difference between leaders as mere symbolic roles, and those who deliver real results.

The power of presence 

Symbolic leadership pertains to creating a strong public image of oneself.

In Namibia, leaders who fit this description are usually very active on social media, and eloquent during public speaking.

With charm and an emotional bond with the citizens, they may attract the attention of everyone. For example, a trending social media campaign or impressive speeches that ring confidence in the people’s minds at rallies endear people to such a leader.

While such leaders can mobilise the public toward some vision, they, too often fail to actually work on the problems that ail the country, such as unemployment, healthcare and education.

This might be where a chasm may appear between what they promise, and what they deliver.

One of the symbols of leadership is visibility: attending events, making great speeches, and engaging in popular charity work.

The former might participate in a widely, publicised community project as an
example, reaping media attention and the admiration of the people.

However, the preoccupation with appearance may cause a disconnect between persona and real society contributions.

An emotional touch with the public may be noble, but without any policies and active role to back up the leadership, the latter remains incomplete. At other times, symbolic leadership may create a culture of superficiality, where attention to image replaces any deep concern for actual problems.

For example, a politician may declare elaborate proposals and programmes in an election campaign, but then wholly fail to implement them once in government.

This may result in a particular kind of self-reinforcing circle, wherein those voters who were excited by the leader’s charisma later become disillusioned because real concrete action has not been delivered.

Effectiveness

While effective leadership generates actual outcomes.  The effective leader will, therefore,
be concerned with policy development, strategic planning and programme implementation, which deal with fundamental societal issues.

In Namibia, this could be through job- creation, improvement of healthcare or enhancing education.

Such leaders would not necessarily care about the limelight from the media, but about creating real change that helps the people’s lives.

For instance, a leader who led in good governance in Namibia may have been successful in job-creation through liaison with vocational centres and local businessmen.

This should have seen significant declines in unemployment.

Therefore, it will be proof that the leader has really tried to solve the people’s important problem.

Such leaders are accountable and transparent.

They have dialogue with the citizens, and publicise undertakings.

In so doing, they instill confidence, and lay a sound foundation for future successes.

Finally, effective leaders ground many of their decisions in data and research.

They study the needs of their communities, and subsequently develop evidence-based programmes and services.

There is a sense of the gravity of ascertaining the actual need and deprivations that a community experiences when a leader implements an unprecedented healthcare initiative based on the outcome of community health assessments.

This pragmatic method yields far superior results, and fosters a sense of collaboration between the leader and constituency.

Melding symbols and efficiency 

The most powerful leaders are often able to merge symbolic and effective forms of leadership.

They can use their charisma to inspire the public, yet simultaneously pull through on main promises.

A political leader may be inspiring a lot to his community through dynamic speeches and social media, but he also works hard to formulate policies that spur economic development and social equity.

This approach will help engage voters, and ensure real progress is achieved.

A blend that is well-espoused by transformational leaders is that they bring important issues such as poverty and inequality, to the fore.

This provides the needed solutions to these problems.

Through their inspirational presence and commitment to actual deliverables, such leaders ensure longevity of relevance, along with a rise through the ranks that uplifts the community.

Balance

As Namibia approaches the 2024 elections, voters have many reasons to pay closer attention to the kind of leadership they want to represent them.

While symbolic leadership may inspire and mobilise people, real leadership is what delivers effective long-term change.

In an ideal world, the best of all worlds involves leaders who incorporate aspects of both styles.

They are charismatic in their unifying qualities, but equally skilled in strategy implementation.

As the electorates make their choices, it is important that they ensure the leaders they choose can serve to inspire the best leadership qualities.

It is through this choice that the supreme and daunting challenges facing the country will be resolved for a brighter and better future for Namibians.

*Rezina Shiwaehafo Sambeni is a third-year education student from the International University of Management.