YES, the whole of Namibia has reason to celebrate that polling has come and gone without any major hitches. And for that matter, it is only natural for anyone after elections to rejoice, especially those who may be perceiving themselves more victors than others, as if the whole country is not a victor.
But the question that comes to mind now is whether the candidates, especially those on the various party lists, making it to the National Assembly for the first time, and those returning, actually have any reason to celebrate? Celebrate what? It baffles me. Yes, if they are happy that the people (voters) have given them a mandate? Yes, but then again the question begs; what mandate? Because more often candidates/nominees seem to rejoice to the point one wonders how much they are aware of the nature of their mandate, and the implications thereof. More often such a mandate has been misread and misinterpreted by them to the point of such a being self-serving the candidates. Many a times these candidates land in public office much for their own self-interest, the public good forgotten soon after the elections. To many, such a mandate may be seem to be a launching pad for political careerism. This is as opposed to such a mandate being a calling and a vocation. And such a mandate being “about public service and a vocation borne of high ideals and a great sense of duty,” if one has to quote former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, in his speech on Monday when he announced his retirement from seeking to further serve his people next year.
And one cannot but emphasise “serving”, which makes one wonder whether this is what imbues our Namibian fellows in seeking public office? “I still hold the belief in something bigger than ourselves. I still hold to the belief in the moral purpose of public service,” Brown said in thanking the British people for allowing him “the chance to serve”. If this is the approach to public office, surely then one cannot see much rejoicing for those assuming public office, here in Namibia and elsewhere.
On the contrary, when the euphoria has settled down, it is time for those facing this arduous task of public office, whether as executives or lawmakers, to start positioning them in every aspect, physically, psychologically and even ideologically for the long haul of public service and duty. But do most actually see it this way? One wonders. But I am inclined to think rarely do those entering public service perceive it in the context of serving. That they are now servants of the people. Lured into a false sense of importance by the incognitos like, “honourables”, those they are supposed to serve often become the servants, if not their slaves. A benign flock. And perhaps this what seems to be the source of celebrations?
But what does entrustment with public office via elections in essence means? This means shouldering responsibility for the many burdens bearing heavily on the backs of many, especially the wretched of society. As much, also soldiering on to maintain the good gains of many years of hard work. Yet, at a minimal reward because the mission is not immediate rewards for self but first and foremost for those they are supposed to be serving.
Those being served or supposed to be served are the ones who should be defining whether those serving are fulfilling the mandate they have been entrusted with, and thus deserving of some kind of reward and award, whichever. But has this been the disposition and inclination of our many stateswomen and men over the years? One is inclined to ask. If yes, one can only acquiesce that such exemplary stateswomen and men, always conscious and conscientious to the national mission and vision, have been far and few between.
Such public service include, first and foremost, ensuring the maintenance of peace, stability, harmony, and last but not the least, enhancing the welfare and prosperity of the populous. Prosperity means freedom from poverty, hunger, starvation. Freedom from neglect and marginalisation. Freedom from squalor. Freedom from destituteness. Freedom from homelessness. Freedom from tribalism, racism, nepotism, favouritism and corruption. In fact the list is endless. Certainly we cannot say that Namibia today does not have vestiges of all these abovementioned ills and evils. That is actually turning a blind eye to realities. In many aspects and respects some of these ills and evils are the order of the day. Street kids, citizens scavenging from the dumps, landlessness. One can only call to mind the movement “Affirmative Repositioning”. This and many other manifestations in our society may seem to the society’s typical stateswoman and man, but transient necessary unavoidable evils. But this is far from it, they are in the least symptoms of some rot within society, and at best manifestations that Namibia is at the abyss of a downward spiral. This is what the polls must mean in essence. It is a mandate to the chosen few servants of the people to confront these, and many other concerns of the actual masters, the people (voters). Yes, granting the initial euphoria is only human and natural, particularly in the face of the daunting task ahead in view of the various ills and evils, challenges, trials and tribulations, and the many rivers still needing crossing.
Our parliamentarians, both new and old, cannot continue with the apparent illusion about their mandate, which is a call to public duty and service. Especially in the wake of the outgoing National Assembly, whose performance has been highly suspect, especially in the last days of its tenure. Constituents (voters) who include frail, infirm sick citizens but who for a couple of hours forgot their vulnerabilities, frailties and infirmities and sicknesses, to contribute the little they could, their votes, certainly deserve more than what they seem to have been getting hitherto. They have not been casting their votes for those they mandated to serve them, who only abuse this mandate by basking in the glory of such votes. But they should ensure that such a mandate becomes meaningful to the people who have cast their votes. The casting of such votes is not an end in itself, but a means towards the greater end. And this greater end is no more than the wellbeing of the people, especially the wretched of our society. It does not need another election five years after to withdraw the mandate of anyone unable to carry it, but those who have given such a mandate every day of their being must ensure that their mandate, as per their vote, is carried out everyday.
Kae MaÞunÿu-Tjiparuro