Taddeus Shithigona
A brief visit to our liberation struggle memoirs informs us that for 106 years, the people of Namibia have been subjected to inhumane; degrading treatment at the hands of Western imperialists and the so called civilised world, who are now parading themselves as the guardians of human rights and democracy in the world.
Namibians had to endure oppression that spanned over 106 years of continuous genocide, apartheid, countless massacres, theft, rape, dispossession, racism, arbitrary arrests, torture, etc, as our people relentlessly and without surrender continued to fight the war mongering Western imperialists, with the likes of Chief Hosea Kutako launching countless petitions before the UN to set Namibia free, to no avail.
After its establishment in 1960 and as a result of years of fruitless diplomatic negotiations with our oppressors, the apartheid regime of Suid Afrika supported by US, Britain and their Western allies, Swapo decided to take up arms in 1966 as it was the only option available to compel the dark forces of imperialism to leave Namibia and her people. The majority of fearless Namibians from all corners of the country joined and rallied behind Swapo in its fight for freedom and justice; the fight for democracy and the rule of law. This again was met with fierce resistance by the agents of tyranny and lawlessness; the agents of war and genocide, the enablers of gross human rights violations; crimes against humanity, and the Western imperialists.
It was the gallant sons and daughters of the soil under the stewardship of Swapo, who picked up the bravery of Kaptein Hendrik Witbooi; the fighting spirit of King Iipumbu yaTshirongo; the uncompromising stance of Mandume yaNdemufayo to fight for democracy and the rule of law, for human rights, freedom and justice.
After a long and protracted struggle against colonialism, Swapo emerged victorious in its bid to free Namibia, the anti-democracy forces were defeated in 1989; the apartheid South Africa & its allies; the Western forces of imperialism.
The first democratic elections in the history of Namibia took place in 1989, with Swapo emerging victorious, as Namibians voted it with a resounding majority. This gave Swapo a majority in the Constituent Assembly that drafted the constitution of the Republic of Namibia, and by virtue of its majority, it had bargaining rights to subsequently bulldoze through with its submissions or reject those of the minority (the opposition). On 4 December 1989, all the political parties represented in the Constituent Assembly had brought before it, their own version of a “constitution” for independent Namibia, and its constitutional ideas. After thorough deliberations & consideration by all members, it was the draft constitution of the Swapo Party that prevailed and was subsequently adopted by the Constituent Assembly, including opposition members therein, and consequently translating into Namibia’s supreme law. Through its democratic principles and ideals, Swapo was able to usher in the Namibian constitution, the values and norms of democracy.
Swapo ensured that Namibia would be a sovereign, unitary, and democratic state with a constitution that provided for a system of government with three branches, an Executive branch elected by universal and equal suffrage which will be responsible to the legislative branch; a Legislative branch to be responsible for the passage of all laws; and an independent Judicial branch which will be responsible for the interpretation of the constitution and for ensuring its supremacy and the authority of law. In addition, the constitution was to include a declaration of fundamental rights, including the right to life, personal liberty and freedom of movement; freedom of conscience; freedom of expression, including freedom of speech and free press; to freedom of assembly and association, including political parties and trade unions; to due process and equality before the law; to protection from arbitrary deprivation of private property or deprivation of private property without just compensation; and to freedom from racial, ethnic, religious or sexual discrimination.
These values and principles, Swapo was able to uphold from 1990 to date. After officially taking charge of the country in 1990, the Swapo led-government continued to establish & strengthen democratic institutions in the country; instantaneously or euphemistically.
To our surprise, those who Namibia had to fight for 106 years because they never believed in democracy; human rights; freedom and justice for all, are now masquerading as the moral guardians and gatekeepers of democracy and the rule of law in the world. They are now sitting in the high chambers of “morality” from where they appoint themselves as the lecturers of constitutionalism and justice. Notwithstanding the fact they are yet to account for the atrocities and crimes against humanity, they have carried out against Namibians and other African nations. They rise from their upper echelons wanting to dictate to us what is right and wrong; what is acceptable and unacceptable; what is evil and holy; what is humane and inhumane, the same ideals they could not uphold in their 106 years of Namibia’s oppression until Swapo came into power. There’s no greater lecturer, Swapo Party is the founder of democracy and the rule of law in Namibia, 32 years and counting.