Freedom of speech brother, this will free us

Africa had her fair share of sell outs, dictators, murders, human rights abusers. The time will also come for the clan of Sam Nujoma to explain his actions in Angola. We want to see him in The Hague.

No worries, Sam Nujoma will not be able to silence the following communication media:

Research support from the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Cape Town, Yale University, Aktiongemeinschaft Solidarische Welt e.V. (ASW), Weltfriedensdienst e.V. (WFD), PRO ASYL ( Germany ), "Der Spiegel", South African Broadcasting Corporation, "Die Presse", ARD German Television, ZDF German Television, South African Morning Newspapers ( "Business Day" Johannesburg, " Cape Times" Cape Town ), "Mail & Guardian" London, Great Britain, Argus South Africa News, London, Great Britain, "Die Zeit", Internationales Afrikaforum, Amnesty International e.V., World Vision Deutschland e.V., and the list still goes on.

This is just the tip of the ice berg. Resist corruption!!! Reject corruption !!! Report corruption now !!! Namibia is listed 55 th on the corruption index and neighbour Angola 142 nd. Let us see who is going to bribe who out of this.

Thanks for Transparency International. Special thanks to UNO, OECD, Ford Foundation, Mac Arthur, GTZ and ex Harvard Professor Jeffrey Sachs, to name a few.

The show must go on. We do not need monsters as clowns, 1975 to 2002 in Angola ... more then one million victims paid the highest price and some claimed to be called heroes in Namibia. After exile they (Sam Nujoma and his Swpo cadres) put them on cosy farms and luxury villa's. Not better then the Lothar von Trotha's who words were to this extend:" Innerhalb der deutschen Grenze wird jeder Herero mit oder ohne Gewehr, mit oder ohne Vieherschossen. Ich nehme keine Weiber und Kinder mehr auf, treibe sie zu ihrenVolke zurück oder lasse auch auf sie schießen."

Nujoma, you were once a president, but even presidents are not untouchable. Remember the hell camps of Lubango, its not mythos but reality. Africa needs peace and not war-mongers and tyrants who mess with the ballot boxes. Your peitschenpolitiek days are over Sam Nujoma, get yourself ready for the ICJ.

Ar. - your rant aside, remember that to play the ethnic card in our political context is like playing with fire. Apart from peace, we need to build bridges and foster mutual understanding, respect and tolerance in order to progress as a society. I would think that many senior members of SWAPO subscribe to this view, too. Of course this has to be a two-way process, and it is not perfect but let us focus on resolving differences not fuelling them with loose talk.

I do not want to be caught between the devil and the deep, blue sea, but, while researching something quite different, I came upon this quotation.

I think it is as apt in Namibia as it is in the country of origin:

Open quote: In the words of Machiavelli, the well-known political thinker of the Renaissance: “It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. Close quote



I could not have said it better myself.

hi guys! since have joined the sheebin online i havent contributed anything, but really this is a very good initiative and most of us are learning a thing or two. but can one tell me to how far do you thing the new party RDP will go and will there people left in the SWAPO party.

Does anyone know whether Geingob has made any pronouncements or revealed his thoughts about RDP? Looks like it has rattled the old guard thoroughly.

Reply to " Shimb"

My dear younger brother - not because you may be younger than I in years, but rather because of the refreshing childlike (remember, NOT childish!) candour of your question.

To answer you briefly, succinctly and to the point: " There will always be a SWAPO!"

I am delighted to witness refreshing activities, especially, in Namibia's politics. The people found a way to ease frustrations against the colonial system through the liberation movement. When this had been achieved, they would naturally strive to improve their lot, and achieve a greater sense of freedom, within their collective ability.

Nevertheless, both their oppressors during slavery, as well as in the new dispensation, have mastered the Machiavellian art. Just as the colonial master would need to maintain the status quo, the strategic means by which freedom was achieved had mutated into a "political hydra" (autocratic rule). People longing for a change rely on the complex scheme of trial-and-error, in order to achieve desireable results. And this comes in the form of charisma and devine intervention, especially when life is at stake.

In it's absence, people resign to the notion that change could be imperceivable, ateast, for the foresee-able future. The kind of intervention that the "Tri-partite" the U.S's Chester Crocker, the gvernment of Angola and Cuba once emplimented, in order to create a diplomatic linkage, that facilitated the colonial regime to withdraw from our territory. Before such loophole had been found, actually, hope had been dashed. A gloomy specter, in deed.

Evidently, having troops on the ground, SWAPO's PLAN (People Liberation Army of Namibia) made little enroutes. Upon independence, SWAPO was, literally, handed power on a "silver platter." Through a universally accepted, democratic doctrine-- majority rule. The same doctrine also expounds the oft ignored protection of minority rights. For the dictatorship of a majority has long been known be worst than a rule by the few.

Needlessly, the ex-slaves expect gradual amelioration towards greater level of liberty and happiness. Now, it is at this stage that collective effort plays a major role. Once a government institution is established, with the help of the community's elite class, it is upon the populace to amalyse and demand their rights. If needs be, the legislative braches ought to make amendments and necessary alterations to accomodate popular demands.

This may take the form of such mass protests such as picketings, mass demonstrations and/or even revolutionary changes. Such collective, political activities always compel administrations to serve the public interest. The inverse is what SWAPO has, unfortunately, opted for. To institute extra-judicial rule-- consalidation of political power, inculcation of a culture not condusive to overall progress (corrupt ways), as well as licentousness in the bureaucratic norms.

This subsequently, reduces national intergrity to autocracy. Dictatorial measures directed towards the very people and all other national resources--land, air, water, etc. through the dirty politcs of cronism, patronage and so forth, in order to satisfy cliques' whims. That in due course demoralise the popular will to excell.

This is one reason why after a period of political vacuum and uncertainty, the nation should heave a sigh of relief. That finally a ray of hope is directed its way. That the virtual impossibility has, finally, been overturned. And for those who managed enough courage to break the status quo, to be encouraged and supported, in many ways. For this is the break that the people subconciously awaited.

Apparently there are those who fell under the spell of the dragonian specter- fear and insecurity, who will now need to come forward and express their aspirations freely; to once again enjoy their political particiption's prerogative-- seek national office positions as well as to elect to those same offices candidates of choice, unimpeded; national and private employment sector to open doors to tax payers, not cronnies from alien shores; and partisan affiliation to serve proper function and purpose., without undue duress and intimidation.

Mr. Hamutenya in his address as an ex-SWAPO member for the very first moment, opined about his motive for his disassociation. That it was due to economic stagnanation that is kept in place by a politicised bureaucracy. For once, as well as a moribund political culture that foster growth retardation, to briefly paraphrase.

It is my personal opinion that the majority SWAPO high ranking members needed to break away from SWAPO's history of violence and brutality against the weak. It is now up to Dr. Tjiriange who needs to continue on to defend Mr. Nujoma and his cohort, if he still needs his SWAPO stewardship. For he is directly answeable to him (Nujoma) to keep that position, and probably SWAPO party membership, as well.

He (Mr. Tjiriange) has resorted to such outragous strategies, as to compel individuals to pledge thier support or to leave SWAPO. Sun Tzu once warned that one needs to keep friends close, and his enemies even closer. For, otherwise they would join force against him.
Rao

One usually takes a pot of freshly-made pap (sadza) (oshifima) off the fire, lets it cool off a bit, then pours milk and sugar (if Western) over it and THEN ONLY eats it.

Allow me to humbly suggest that we do this also with new political parties who promise one heaven on earth and a whole lot more. The RDP and its most emiment supporter, ex-cde HH, have barely reached boiling point. After Saturday at the Independence Arena in Katutura (if I am informed correctly), things may be a lot clearer. At the moment things are as clear as an oshona after a herd of cattle has been through it.

It may sound like the Second Coming, but no thanks! I'll wait until the situation has cleared up and has been freed from all hyperbole and spin-doctoring ........

For whom the bell tolls .....

On the afternoon of Saturday, 17 November 2007, some 1500 plus Namibians in their most glorious spread of unity in diversity loudly heard the death knell sound for lukewarm and wishy-washy opposition parties in the Independence Arena in Katutura, just outside Windhoek proper. Concomitant with that, this sound also contained a serious undertone of warning to the ruling party, Swapo.

Former Namibian Foreign Minister Hidipo Hamutenya was in fine form when he officially launched the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) amongst loud calls of “Viva! Long live President Hamutenya!'

His Terminator-like pronouncement of “I am back! And we are here to stay” probably had opposition parties like the COD – mired in personal attacks and much petty infighting – and the DTA – basically just the shell of its former self after breakaways and indecisiveness – shaking in their boots or shoes.

If the RDP, with it youthful image and energy, and the appeal of a Hamutenya, A Jesaya Nyamu, a Michaela Huebschle and many others who were seen in the crowd and on stage, can but maintain even a fraction of the groundswell of the launch for the next year or so, the chances are good that the ruling party, SWAPO Party, will, at long last - and for the first time in then 19 years - face a suitable and equal opponent during the 2009 Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

Words like “ We are a party embracing Namibians of all political backgrounds and persuasions”, must have sounded like honey to the disappointed members of opposition groups that tried the break with SWAPO in a credible and authoritative way.

Basically doing not much more than taking one step forward and two back or even in full retreat from former positions, Namibia's opposition groups have, most certainly, not have had the stuff to inspire action needed for a Renaissance.

If the RDP manages to really become a “political home to people who no longer fit into rigid and stagnant political structures”, it better get into top organising gear quickly.

To even a casual observer it was easy to see that the ruling party and its leaders had become complacent over the years, mired in self-satisfaction, nepotism, corruption and all other – similar - woes that are worse than leeches or clouds of mosquitoes during the rainy season.

Now the venerable ruling party may actually be facing someone that could keep them in check and – in time (traditions die hard) – upset the apple-cart of a safe Swapo political monopoly.

The time may now have come for the party to actually start thinking of wanting to restructure
at all levels. New members, or members who have not been brought up in a spirit of never-ending confrontation in a bygone era, may care less about endless tales of how it was in the beginning and these new faces, this new blood, probably also will not be able to chant/shout/sing all the struggle hymns!

By 2009, ALL our eligible voters will have been born after independence and those who want their crosses against the right party symbol, need to be innovative and not asleep.

Maybe, if nothing else, the forming of this new party was the clarion call to Swapo that the times they are a-changin' and that there is a new wind blowing in Namibia.

Perhaps one should take and misquote slightly the famous speech by British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, made in Cape Town on the 3rd of February 1960 (in the same city where the forerunner of Swapo was founded and only a some two months before the movement adopted the name of SWAPO) before a shocked apartheid regime: “ The wind of change is blowing through this country. Whether we like it or not, this growth of new national consciousness is a political fact.”

If Swapo heeds the call, all may be well ... if not, we may as well complete the quotation from which the title of this is taken:

“ ... Swapo, it tolls for thee ............. “