OH, Goody-goody!

If I look at all the above comment and replies and so on, Namibians are not going to play "political chairs" (you know, like musical chairs) anymore! There will actually be a choice between the devil you know and the devil you don't know.

Now, that is DEMOCRACY!



Pietro the Brave

Dear Oneword (what a misnomer!)

What you are talking about represents the ‘Dark Threat’ to all organisations. While most organisations are normally aware of and take measures to prevent the threat from Outside, very few members of just about any organisation (maybe, thinking of the dungeons, one should exclude Swapo from this?!) know what patterns or indicators to look for when seeking the threat from Inside the organisation.

At the moment they forget that knowledge (call it “intelligence” in this case) is simply information, which has been subjected to a process of analysis. To me they (Swapo) currently still seem too flustered to do any kind of analysis; instead they are running around like chickens who have lost their head.


Pietro the Brave

These tendencies indeed represent the greatest threat to the continuing success of SWAPO and its hold on power, as well as the fate of our nation.

All democracies need internal political renewal - it is the lifeblood of progress, peace, prosperity and development. A change at the helm is like a fresh wind blowing through the cupboard - that's not to say that the cupboard is full of skeletons or that all the clothes in the cupboard have to be thrown out. It is to say that atrohpy is in our human nature, and even more so for politicians in power who think they are neither fallible nor replacable.

The SWAPO government has achieved many successes, but has also failed on many levels. It appears to be suffering from aterial sclerosis brought on by the uncontested political power it has enjoyed since Independence. I wonder whether any medication will change that.

SWAPO's ruling elite has become smug and passive not unlike ZANU-PF in Zimbabwe. There is a perception among some SWAPO politicans that NAMIBIA=SWAPO and SWAPO=NAMIBIA. There is indeed a sense of entitlement on the part of many SWAPO members, who live under the illusion that Namibia is theirs to have, and theirs to behold.

The good news is that the establishment of a new party may challenge these notions and make the contest for political power meaningful again for our nation. It should be peaceful, democratic contest for power and it should be waged at the ballot box. Time will tell, but there is a fresh wind blowing through the Namib and that can only be good.

The bad news is that it is not clear whatsoever whether SWAPO is and ever will be ready and willing to hand over political power IN A PEACEFUL, DEMOCRATIC AND CIVILISED FASHION if the people of Namibia have cast their votes in FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS in favour of the RDP, or any other political party for that matter.

It is obviously too early to tell, but I remain tremendously concerned that the SWAPO of today is not unlike the ZANU-PF of today: Unwilling to let go of political power and the spoils it brings; steeped in history; talking a language of battles gone by. This militancy and call to arms in SWAPO continues to be expressed by members of its Youth wing, and it is both damaging to the nation as it is unhelpful.

And one more thing: If SWAPO is not able to ro willing to let go of political power, the fresh winds blwoing through the Namibia will not be able to blow away the dark clouds gathering on the horizon.

Should be interesting if peeps cast their vote!

Phelakuti,

Well spoken! You mention Sun Tzu. Wise Old Man, that!

Together with Von Clausewitz probably the greatest inspiration to soldiers and their strategies from all nations over the past centuries or so (yes, "centuries"! Remember we are in the 21st now).

Sun Tzu also said "The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself".

Currently that sounds terribly familiar and sounds as if it were made just for us in our current situation .....

Wish we could "subdue the enemy without fighting" - fighting of whatever nature, but, then, that is not human nature, is it??.

Freedom of speech will most definately free our minds.

I agree, we do not need this scale of disaster any where in Africa any more. Stop the looting. Now is the time to take stock of all assets of all heroes. We need an international commitee of inquiry to investigate the assets of all political party members - this new ruling class of self seekers and careerists, the squandering of government funds in all directions. This is not undermined of nation building, rather to strenghten the efficiency of the state. Again ... free opinion counts, not running a police state. One should be free to question the authority or decisions of any political leader, regardless of rank, president, prime minister, minister, director or what ever position.

In each African country, our African leaders acted in contempt of constitutional rules and agreement they had sworn to uphold, just to enhance their own power. For greater control, they want one party systems.

The great sons of Africa, the doctors of revolutionary sciences. We need multi racial ministers and other leaders in all sectors of government. For coloureds we need coloured ministers, for whites we need white ministers, we need true presentation. Away with this junk system where ethnic minorities suffer all the time. Stop the torture of ethnic minorities and abuse

Let us live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. Stop the white domination and black domination, it's crap. We need racial harmony and freedom for all.

Mindfactory,

I tend to agree with part of your premise, BUT if you want minorities represented by their own people, you will never get a homogenous society. You are all for racial harmony but, in fact, are making a case for segregation (a type of apartheid?)

How now? Back to the drawing board?

BTW, I don't mind who represents my interests in various issues. I have only one condition: he or she must do it well and must know what they are doing and what the possible consquences of any action could/would be.

RDP is an "inside threat". Inside what. RDP is an independent, legal entity. The vigilante--SPYL is the inside threat. This guys went from a responsible governing power to the worse corrupt institute. People the world over listen in utter amazement at the level bistiality going on

Phelakuti! Compatriot! Comrade! Don't get your gander up! When the thread was initiated, the deserters were still part and parcel of the mighty Swapo. It is only now that the chaff has formed a "party".

As for the SPYL... well, they are young people, for heaven's sake. Youngsters have always made a noise! Some of the "noise" has obvious, clear political overtones as some of these youngsters have political ambitions. How to become noticed? By making a noise. Something about empty drums .........