RUNDU – Several political parties have vowed not to use ‘tribal tactics’ as a campaign tool during the Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for November this year.
Swapo Party Secretary General, Nangolo Mbumba, says his party does not condone the use of tribalism to lure voters and is a mass-based political party. “Nationalist parties are those with a national appeal. Appealing to all Namibians to support your programmes on the basis of your track record, because appealing to one tribe is a death trap that will not lead you anywhere in the future,” he said. “In terms of our history as Swapo, during the struggle, after independence and what we are doing now, our appeal is a broad national appeal of one Namibia, one nation. We want people to support our programmes on merit, it should not be a group of likes based on last names or tribes, but rather on what we want to do for the country,” said Mbumba. Our country, said Mbumba, is one in which investors and tourist come knowing that their business and physical security is secured.
Swanu of Namibia President Usutuaije Maamberua also does not support canvassing support on tribal grounds, because it is very ‘divisive’ and antagonistic. “This is the same as having trade unions affiliated to political parties. The unions are supposed to represent all workers, but now they affiliate themselves to political parties,” he argues. “So in short, my response is that political parties using tribalism to mobilise voters, this is the very same as having trade unions affiliated to political parties,” said Maamberua. When asked to comment on the matter, DTA President McHenry Venaani said: “That is the thing that kept this country behind for so long, because people use tribalism to create an entitlement syndrome. You have tribes in this country that believe that accessing wealth is the domain of their business, they even question how people from other political parties or tribes get business opportunities.” Venaani urged members of his party and his competitors not to utter words that are directed towards the promotion of tribalism, because “it is a wrong way to mobilize” voters.
“Politics in Africa will forever be based on tribal lines, whether we like it or not, and I believe politicians are the ones fuelling this situation. When you find people at cuca shops they do not see things such as tribal differences, politicians are the ones who come and bring it up,” said Venaani.
“This thing of the Damaras saying it is their turn to rule, because Hage is a presidential candidate is wrong, the same goes for the Oshiwambo people who are saying they will not vote for a ‘kwankara’,” he said.
Take for instance the poorest regions in the country, the Kavango regions, people from that area should not think that the region is poor because the Kavangos are being sidelined, but rather address issues pertaining to socio-economic inequality, he said. Venaani warned that policies of exclusivity have the potential to lead to resentment within the country.
“I lay the blame on the Swapo government, although they are improving here and there, they must take responsibility for creating ‘cultural exclusivity’,” charged Venaani.
Jobs and business opportunities must not only go to those who are well connected or those who have a minister as a relative, they should be for all Namibians.
“I have seen how tribal flagships destroy nations, look at Burundi and Rwanda. We must learn from others and do right, you cannot unite a country by saying unite, it must be action-oriented,” he said. Venaani said there are leaders in the country who are tribalists, instead of nationalists.
“Some of our leaders only remember only the areas where they come from, but we cannot tolerate ‘home politics’,” Venaani said. “If a party is designed as a tribal grouping, how will they help the rest of the nation when in power?” he asked. “There is nothing wrong with thinking about your constituency, but there is everything wrong if you do not think of others,” concluded Venaani.
Meanwhile, Nudo’s Deputy Secretary General and party spokesman for all election-related matters, Vetaruhe Kandorozu also condemned any tribal related mobilisation tactics. “We must condemn tribalism because we have unitary state, not a central (sic) or a Bantustan state. Tribalist traditional slogans aimed at rallying voters should not be condoned, all parties must canvass support from all corners of the country,” he said. He also urged citizens to do their part by not blocking some political parties, which should be free to hold rallies in all parts of the country.
“This form of mobilistion has a great effect on the country because we will end up clustering ourselves while, in the meantime, Namibia belongs to all of us. Sometimes we talk about anti-tribalism, but when we plan our developmental programmes or when it comes to the distribution of the national cake it is of a tribal nature,” he claims.
By Mathias Haufiku