The National and Presidential elections are looming, as they are to be held next year. In some circles, the members of political parties are applying push and pull strategies to try to eke
out a niche in the forthcoming political dispensation.
Some of the politicians who have been in the system for some time are opportunistic and recycled, and in the process are appealing to the electorate to give them another chance.
In extreme cases, the political heavyweights are thrusting themselves against the lightweights by forcing and threatening them to relinquish their positions in order to make way for them while awaiting the primary elections, which should see them ushered into the political limelight.
The heavyweights are behaving like bulls in China shops, and breaking all cups in their wake. What these political giants fail to understand is that, during their tenure of office, very little was done, which can convince the electorate to give them another political opportunity. It is common in this country, especially among the political aspirant, to vanish after the elections, and come back after five years for another political campaign.
What many politicians fail to understand is that human beings are political in nature, and when they want to change, no one can stop them, no matter the amount of force applied.
This is the point the South African apartheid regime missed during those years of colonialism and oppression. There was belief and speculation among the racists that they were prepared to
fight until the bitter end. But this did not go as believed by the oppressors, and Namibians managed to achieve Independence.
Giving the politicians another chance to access political power should be measured against service delivery and other developments they should have made.
The politicians should paraphrase J.F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech in January 1961, in which he appealed to his fellow Americans to always ask not what their country can do for them, but ask what they have done for their country, a statement honed down from a thought about sacrifice.
Most of the political leaders who will be seeking another term have done very little for the constituencies they represented. Many voices are sounding against the provision of the party list, which according to them restrict them from working for their electorate. Although this point might be valid in some situations, it can definitely not be an alibi for
all cases. There are examples where the party listed members have been delivering in their regions. A good example is this honourable minister from Kavango East, who when
given any ministerial portfolio, will always see to it that his constituency receives first priority through services. It will be unfair for politicians who have been failing to deliver for all these
years to be considered for another term again. Even the electorate who will be voting for such personalities will equally make mistakes, as their situation will not improve. The politicians who smell of corruption are equally vying for the positions, but the political leadership should bar these people from contesting as they will continue with their filthy activities. Another development which has just surfaced on the horizon is the system of personalising the political party, as if it is someone’s personal property.
This mentality will not take any party anywhere, but will only disintegrate the party into many units, which may not work together for the unity of the party.
What makes other people think that they are more important in a political party than others, is their own orientation.
The political party is similarised like the body, and needs all its sections to work together for the smooth running of the house.
Like in the body, should one part fail to work, then the whole body will not function as excepted. Why then, should party members who are bent on disrupting the party structures be allowed to stand for re-election? This attitude tilts around selfishness, which should be nipped in the bud. The party members who harbour intentions of ripping the party off should equally be refused
to contest. The reality of the current ruling party is a façade in many aspects, in which some members do not want other party members
to be given an opportunity to prove themselves as capable stalwarts of the party.
It is strange that these personalities are seeking re-running for political offices. In many cases, we have party members who are keen
to indulge with the politics of the belly.
Theirs is only to service the boots of other politicians, instead of taking the needs of the electorate into account. But without shame, these personalities will still insist that they occupy political offices in which their interests will be priorities at the expense of the masses.
There are also politicians who have served the party for many years and being recycled, and fail to give another opportunity to new blood, when they know that they can no longer deliver.
The essence of giving such politicians another opportunity to serve the electorate while well knowing that they are unable to fulfil their political duties and obligations is putting the
party and the country into jeopardy.
The parties should also be examining themselves, and file candidates who will deliver at the end of their tenure.
The reasons for the poor performances of many parties are because they file wrong candidates at the right time. This time around, let political parties give another chance to deserving candidates by service delivery, not by only managing the party slogans and song-singing.