This is becoming ugly now There is a disconcerting trend in Namibian politics, particularly within the ruling party, Swapo. It appears as though a silent storm brews and high-level politicians and veterans gather quietly, whenever someone “steps out of line”. What that “line” is, we do not understand. Our leaders say we live in a democracy, but there is no free flow of thoughts or ideas.
Officials that are paid handsomely, with our tax dollars mind you, are voted for by us, the people of Namibia, and fail to take care of the people''s needs - because they have to take care of the party''s needs. In the words of our president, they need to “toe the line”. What line Mr President? We want them to say the new parliament is a no-no. We want them to take care of us! They are supposed to know what we need. But when they speak of our needs, or dare to criticise a colleague – the die-hard political elite pull together, black Mercs paid for by our taxes neatly parked next to one another, gates closed, guarded by City Police and NamPol, to discuss the expulsion of the blameless. Will every party member who criticises the status quo, daring to speak of the land question be threatened with expulsion? In a democracy, heated debates take place. Look at other countries where democracies have existed for hundreds of years. Those parliamentarians also throw punches, but the debates continue – the sharing of ideas and thoughts, the balancing of views and interests – paramount in any just and fair democratic system. This is how it should be in Namibia where we have a diversity of tribes and people, all living peacefully under the same flag. Tribalism is rearing its ugly head – and it is happening all the more aggressively and frequently than we have ever seen, or would have ever liked to see, over the past 26 years of “democratic” rule.
The importance of peace and stability cannot be overstated, but what we know for sure is that this way of doing things, these meetings and the unreasonable demands and punishments meted out, these are the real things that are threatening our peace and stability. We are not school children, you insult us!