By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK
Recent threats by war veterans to boycott the coming elections would have minimal effect on, or cause no damage to Swapo Party’s stature, says a local commentator, Andrew Niikonda.
Niikonda, a lecturer in Public Management and Head of Department at the Polytechnic of Namibia, said the recent threats by the association of ex-combatants chairperson Ruusa Malulu, that ex-combatants and their relatives would not participate in any voting exercise until the Government responds positively to their demands, will not have an impact on the political situation in Namibia.
He says Swapo Party is backed by young people who were not part of the fighting in the bush. As such, the mobilisation by ex-combatants would yield less results.
Niikonda, who regards the ex-combatant issue as sensitive, explained that there were people in communities who served as Swapo Party sympathisers and strong supporters. Some provided food, shelter, protection and information to Plan combatants and in the process lost their properties, limbs, lives and loved ones. Others suffered a great deal of torture, humiliation, rape and molestation.
“If the Government was to give what the association of ex-fighters demands, these people would also consider it unfair if compensation would benefit only the ex-combatants,” he said.
Niikonda argued that another serious problem concerning the ex-Plan combatants’ demands is the economic implications. Compensation in billions of dollars would harm the country’s economy in many ways.
“It appears that the people need to understand the basics of economic principles. In this scenario, those who make demands have the illusion that compensation in millions will benefit them and the nation. However, it seems they tend to forget the negative side of it, which is inflation,” he said.
Niikonda warned against setting a precedent by meeting the demands of the ex-combatants as another group of political activists, supporters who lost their properties, children and relatives during the war of liberation, and even those who voted Swapo Party into power during the 1989 elections, might raise the same demands.
He noted that the group of ex-combatants was large and includes ministers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers in various government and non-governmental organisations, under secretaries and directors, who currently earn more than N$300???_?_’???_?’???_???