In their thoughtful book, ‘An Introduction to Politics’ Garner, Ferdinand and Lawson (2020), eloquently imply that one of the paradoxes about democracies is that on the one hand there is near unanimity on the indispensability of political parties.
They are almost ubiquitous, even in authoritarian regimes. The existence of a healthy, respected and respectful opposition is a common feature of democratic politics.
For a democracy to function properly, it needs an opposition to provide political contestation and electoral competition, thus limiting the power of the ruling party.
In other words: no opposition, no democracy (Kotzé and García-Rivero, 2008).
The role of political opposition has proved ambiguous in most newly independent nations.
New governments rarely see the necessity for a regular opposition party nor do they always accept the idea of opposition as a normal feature of government.
There are many reasons why this is so.
Most new nations have come into being after a prolonged period of struggle with colonial authorities, which has caused nationalist leaders to monopolise loyalties.
Also, opposition groups having themselves been associated with nationalism at some stage of their existence, often have an anti-government reflex common to those whose political actions have been aimed at changing the fundamental character of a country rather than accepting well established rules of political life and working within them (Apter, 1962).
Moving forward, a political party is a group of people that is organised for winning government power, by electoral or other means (Heywood, 2013).
An opposition party is a political party that does not win enough seats in a general election to form a government.
The elected members of that party instead serve in the legislature as the opposition.
An opposition party criticises and challenges the governing party, with the goal of improving legislation and forming the government in the next election (Boyko, 2021).
This peace argues, opposition parties in democratic Namibia should stay relevant in order to contribute towards state building.
It then applauds the “significant opposition gestures” being demonstrated by the Namibian opposition parties in fostering nationhood and contributing towards national development.
The framework
In February 2022, the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leadership comprising Bernadus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb met with President Hage Geingob at State House.
After the meeting, the LPM leaders stated that they discussed issues related to the Neckartal Dam, possibly for the involvement of the //Kharas regional council, and that a comprehensive plan was presented to President Geingob.
In November 2020, Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Minister Calle Schlettwein stated the government intends to implement a 5 000ha irrigation scheme outside the Neckartal Dam to increase food security and economic development in the //Kharas region.
“This scheme should produce a valley of green lush lands where high-value crops like wheat, maize, vegetables and fruits as well as animal fodder can be produced for own consumption and export to other markets if the volumes grown allow it,” Schlettwein said.
Furthermore, Swartbooi said they called upon the government under the leadership of Hage Geingob to review the land reform and resettlement programme, because it has failed.
In addition, the LPM leader insisted the government must also urgently address the plight of the San communities in the Omaheke region, who he said are suffering from starvation because they do not have land.
Cementing his so called “open door policy”, on the 11th of March 2022, President Hage Geingob had a successful consultation with leaders of opposition parties about Namibia’s post-Covid-19 recovery, with a focus on green hydrogen as a frontier of growth.
The opposition leaders shared their views on the way forward, urging the President to implement the project.
The President consulted with the leaders of political parties namely the South West Africa National Union (Swanu), National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo), Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), the All People’s Party (APP), the Republican Party (RP), the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) all of them showing support for the much anticipated hydrogen project.
Additionally, Popular Democratic Movement assigned leader for the //Kharas region Ricky Vries was recently quoted as saying, “the movement is not only there to criticise government in what they are doing, but rather also assist it accordingly.”
Not long ago, PDM donated a clinic to the community of Grünau in //Kharas.
All these initiatives and inputs by the opposition are crucial for social and economic development for our country.
In countries like South Africa, opposition parties such as the Economic Freedom Fighters have immensely contributed to the socio-economic development of that country by building houses for the vulnerable senior citizens and they have provided agricultural equipment to black South Africans who want to work the land.
Accordingly, I strongly believe that all political opposition parties in Namibia with their allocated funds from the state should strive towards economic emancipation for the benefits of Namibians while ensuring that the government deliver quality services to the people rather than hunting for votes only when its election time.
Opposition relevance
Opposition parties should not only consider themselves as the only number one government critics, but they should stay relevant in order to strengthen Namibia’s democracy and contribute towards nation building.
Although the opposition parties in Namibia have being described as “frail and feeble”, this general perspective is changing with a considerable number of opposition parties in charge at regional and local government levels.
Ironically, for the opposition to stay relevant, the opposition has a duty to offer voters a credible alternative to the government in office to make the majority accountable.
To be a credible alternative, however, the opposition must also be ready to exercise the responsibilities to which it aspires on a lasting basis. In other words, it must have a programme ready to implement.
Moreover, the opposition must show itself to be responsible and be able to act in a statesmanlike manner. It must engage in constructive and responsible opposition by making counter proposals.
In its action, the opposition must not seek to hinder pointlessly the action of the government but rather endeavour to encourage it to improve such action in the general interest.
What is required is for the members of the opposition to exercise their responsibilities with due respect for the Constitution and the laws of our beautiful Namibia.
They must, of course, refrain from advocating violence as a means of political expression.
Indeed, their action must be in keeping with a spirit of mutual tolerance and a quest for dialogue and concerted action.
Finally, we are reminded by Alveda Celeste King, “when you see the political parties squabble, if a baby is not allowed to be born, all the other issues do not come into play.”