SWAPO Failure: Reality, not a myth

With the population of about 2 milion people coinciding with the vast wealth mother nature gifted to this lovely, huge land of ours, why oh why should we have more than 50% of our population living along the poverty line? The answer, however, is fairly simple: Whoever is managing our wealth and resources isn't doing it right. Surely, there can be no escape whatsoever from this answer. If the administrator of this failure is the SWAPO government, then SWAPO failed dismisally.

SWAPO did not fail because Hidipo Hamutenya & co said so, SWAPO failure is manifestered in our every day life. They cannot prioritise matters for starters. They were supposed to initiate well managed industrial projects with the aim to substitute the importation of basic commodities like food stuff, basic services( like financial, construction, etc) that can actually bear fruits instead of embarking upon projects whose needs are, clearly, not so urgent. One of SWAPO's big failure is also manifested by the fact that they don't want to recognize most of the fearless men and women who fought for independence inside Namibia. All you here is " the ex-combatants". This people were even worse off considering the fact that they were defenceless, had no where to run or hide and, therefore, at the mercy of the Kovoet barbarians all the time. Take a drive (or walk for that matter) in the streets of Katutura. All you see written on the faces of most of those you encounter is destitution and hopelessnes. If you go to the Babylon, Okahandja Park, Shitenda locations especialy, you will be forgiven for thinking that you are in some war ravaged country. The situation is so bad that the call for the councilors, or whichever officials responsible for the development of these communities, to be criminally charged is not absurd all. I understant that every nation has its ghettos but the situation in our shantty towns are way too inhumane. And this is the capital city, can you imagine how the situation is like in the smaller towns and rural areas? SWAPO pat itself on the back for providing ater and electricity to SOME rural areas, this can also be viewed as a self serving act because if they didn't do it, only Dr Sam Nuyoma and probably Hons. Pahamba, Iithana and Ekanjo will vote for SWAPO. In the Southern, Caprivi, Kavango, regions there's hardly anything new after independence( and I don't want to bore you with the details about our Education, Health, and all other Social Services which are in utter shambles). I could go on and on, eventually writting a book the size of the bible about the SWAPO failures.

Let me tell you how things started. After indepentence, SWAPO had still not firmly rubber stamped their authority in Namibia. so, accordingly big positions where handed out to the best psychophantic element who can sing the SWAPO( and you know is SWAPO, don't you?) songs the loudest. Qualification and experience was never a condition. As a result, crucial developmental projects and responsibilities fell to incompetent individuals who has the brain of a forth grader. Policies are oftenly coied and pasted from various sources and you expect a Tanganyika veteran to implement it? What a laugh! And this sort of praise singers, knowing that they were appointed by the power that be, were at liberty to do whatever they deemed fit with national resources without any fear of prosecution or any form of punishment whatsoever. Since our justice system does not seem to recognize the theft of tax payers' money as a criminal offence, the 'oshimbwango' set in and "comrades" in previleged positions placed their own and their famillies' interests above anything else, without a single thought about the law or its consequences. Now after fattening their pockets, obviously, they become disinterested and lost all the sincerity in their work to develop the entire country or spread the benefits to the ordinary Namibian. Development became a political tool used to reward those strategically important to the SWAPO power base and with held to those who are deemed not worth it. The liberation heroes turned into vultures who are simply in the look out for more projects exploit.

Wandering why all the support still,huh? Let me break it down for you ,ok? Swapo gained their popularlity and everybody's support when it was realy deserved. Most of us were so fed up with the oppression that we viewed SWAPO in the same light the Israelites viewed Moses. SWAPO went ahead, organized then "won" the independence. This earned them the cult status confered upon it by many, usually, illiterate Namibians. To many poor (both in financialy and educationally) Namibian the only oppresion that exist in their mind is colonial, by white people of course, therefore, any other form of oppression, from fellow black Namibians for instance, is a myth or propaganda. They don't believe that their liberation sruggle heroes can be as devilish as to disregard them when the sharing of the independence cake is concerned. This is the reason why you see bare footed villagers walking 15km to fetch water fully donned in SWAPO colurs and ready "to defend the revolution" . Blind loyality indeed brought about by the utter lack of education in the first place.The people are actually cheering on the bunch of burgoisies that oversees the missery they are complaining about ( the poor health, education, low pension for the elders etc) ? I am not educated myself but things like that makes me realize how crucial is this education thing. Swapo knows this and theymaking a killing for it while stock lasts. Our situation is a carbon copy of Zimbabwe, you know. The Zimbabwean people suffered for long enuogh before the bone breaking poverty finally awaken the average man that the "aluta continua" slogan isn't realy feeding anyone. Soon every Namibian will understand that our sporadic poverty and unemployment level is 100% made in Namibia(its also an unregistered member Team Namibia).

[Oneword]

Shebeen,

I still maintain that people who are not registered should not be allowed to post.

see above.

I have one question for the "martyr" (because that is what the real Steve Biko was!): Who could have done better in the given circumstances?

[Shebeen]

Agred, Oneword - I'll leave the post up for a day or two and see whether any registered member claims ownership and reposts. If not, I'll take it down.

[juikk]

Originally Posted by SteveBiko

With the population of about 2 milion people coinciding with the vast wealth mother nature gifted to this lovely, huge land of ours, why oh why should we have more than 50% of our population living along the poverty line? The answer, however, is fairly simple: Whoever is managing our wealth and resources isn't doing it right. Surely, there can be no escape whatsoever from this answer. If the administrator of this failure is the SWAPO government, then SWAPO failed dismisally.

SWAPO did not fail because Hidipo Hamutenya & co said so, SWAPO failure is manifestered in our every day life. They cannot prioritise matters for starters. They were supposed to initiate well managed industrial projects with the aim to substitute the importation of basic commodities like food stuff, basic services( like financial, construction, etc) that can actually bear fruits instead of embarking upon projects whose needs are, clearly, not so urgent. One of SWAPO's big failure is also manifested by the fact that they don't want to recognize most of the fearless men and women who fought for independence inside Namibia. All you here is " the ex-combatants". This people were even worse off considering the fact that they were defenceless, had no where to run or hide and, therefore, at the mercy of the Kovoet barbarians all the time. Take a drive (or walk for that matter) in the streets of Katutura. All you see written on the faces of most of those you encounter is destitution and hopelessnes. If you go to the Babylon, Okahandja Park, Shitenda locations especialy, you will be forgiven for thinking that you are in some war ravaged country. The situation is so bad that the call for the councilors, or whichever officials responsible for the development of these communities, to be criminally charged is not absurd all. I understant that every nation has its ghettos but the situation in our shantty towns are way too inhumane. And this is the capital city, can you imagine how the situation is like in the smaller towns and rural areas? SWAPO pat itself on the back for providing ater and electricity to SOME rural areas, this can also be viewed as a self serving act because if they didn't do it, only Dr Sam Nuyoma and probably Hons. Pahamba, Iithana and Ekanjo will vote for SWAPO. In the Southern, Caprivi, Kavango, regions there's hardly anything new after independence( and I don't want to bore you with the details about our Education, Health, and all other Social Services which are in utter shambles). I could go on and on, eventually writting a book the size of the bible about the SWAPO failures.

Let me tell you how things started. After indepentence, SWAPO had still not firmly rubber stamped their authority in Namibia. so, accordingly big positions where handed out to the best psychophantic element who can sing the SWAPO( and you know is SWAPO, don't you?) songs the loudest. Qualification and experience was never a condition. As a result, crucial developmental projects and responsibilities fell to incompetent individuals who has the brain of a forth grader. Policies are oftenly coied and pasted from various sources and you expect a Tanganyika veteran to implement it? What a laugh! And this sort of praise singers, knowing that they were appointed by the power that be, were at liberty to do whatever they deemed fit with national resources without any fear of prosecution or any form of punishment whatsoever. Since our justice system does not seem to recognize the theft of tax payers' money as a criminal offence, the 'oshimbwango' set in and "comrades" in previleged positions placed their own and their famillies' interests above anything else, without a single thought about the law or its consequences. Now after fattening their pockets, obviously, they become disinterested and lost all the sincerity in their work to develop the entire country or spread the benefits to the ordinary Namibian. Development became a political tool used to reward those strategically important to the SWAPO power base and with held to those who are deemed not worth it. The liberation heroes turned into vultures who are simply in the look out for more projects exploit.

Wandering why all the support still,huh? Let me break it down for you ,ok? Swapo gained their popularlity and everybody's support when it was realy deserved. Most of us were so fed up with the oppression that we viewed SWAPO in the same light the Israelites viewed Moses. SWAPO went ahead, organized then "won" the independence. This earned them the cult status confered upon it by many, usually, illiterate Namibians. To many poor (both in financialy and educationally) Namibian the only oppresion that exist in their mind is colonial, by white people of course, therefore, any other form of oppression, from fellow black Namibians for instance, is a myth or propaganda. They don't believe that their liberation sruggle heroes can be as devilish as to disregard them when the sharing of the independence cake is concerned. This is the reason why you see bare footed villagers walking 15km to fetch water fully donned in SWAPO colurs and ready "to defend the revolution" . Blind loyality indeed brought about by the utter lack of education in the first place.The people are actually cheering on the bunch of burgoisies that oversees the missery they are complaining about ( the poor health, education, low pension for the elders etc) ? I am not educated myself but things like that makes me realize how crucial is this education thing. Swapo knows this and theymaking a killing for it while stock lasts. Our situation is a carbon copy of Zimbabwe, you know. The Zimbabwean people suffered for long enuogh before the bone breaking poverty finally awaken the average man that the "aluta continua" slogan isn't realy feeding anyone. Soon every Namibian will understand that our sporadic poverty and unemployment level is 100% made in Namibia(its also an unregistered member Team Namibia).

I couldn't have said this any better, I say whoever posted this piece deserves a pat on the back, and irrespective of him/her not 'owning up' (don't we all use pseudo names?)to this piece is vital and food for thought for those who WILL make the mistake of voting for INCOMPETENCE come election time....the all too popular question as a 'counter defense' for the dismally performing party is, 'Who could have done better?' ....the point is we are evaluating SWAPO's performance, THEY Manage this country on the basis of a majority votes secured, so there is no point in running around, looking for who could have done it better, we can only ask that question, if there was a party with equal if any decision making power, so unless we put other parties/people to test, that question in itself is fairly irrelevant.....SWAPO fails, and will still fail the people of this country, and we should not try and make excuses for them!!!

[juikk]

Might I just add that should SWAPO be allowed to have this mighty power for longer than the 2 decades they already wasted we will be like Zimbabwe tolerating an obviously harmful leadership at the expense of the masses, it might seem out of context for those who do not visit the said shanty towns, but for those who feel for the people, having to live a life of hell on a daily basis, this statement is not entirely far fetched. Let's learn from others mistakes and DO something about our peoples plight while we still can, Let's see an emergency for corrective action, than wait for the EMERGENCY to come knock vehemnetly on our doors.By the way, RDP did not proof to me to be a people representative party either, I get the feeling they are all about elitism, do they even go out to the mentioned adversely effected communities? jux saying....

[juikk]

Originally Posted by Shebeen

Agred, Oneword - I'll leave the post up for a day or two and see whether any registered member claims ownership and reposts. If not, I'll take it down.

This will be an entirely SWAPO like move Shebeen, the author without being rude unnecessarily or using foul or unfit language puts it as it is, and you will exercise your power and simply take it off the forum, you will for sure gain my 'respect'....jux saying

[Tuhafeni]

It is a right for every one to criticise and enjoy freedom of speech and expression which was brought by SWAPO, (may be its another failure?). However, one wonder after 18 years of independence I never come across of any article or whatsoever, that is mentioning or thanking the SWAPO government for any good doing or practice, does that mean nothing worth credit giving has been done by our government or what?,

On my point of view I am not agreeing with BIKO as to say SWAPO government have Failed, but unless to say it need to improve in certain areas and utilize the country's resources to the benefit of all citizen irrespective of culture, race, religion, political affiliation etc. Furthermore, I would say some of the so-called failures put on the government are the babies of the citizen themselves who might be given opportunities and spoil them by either being greed when their are tasked to lead others in a certain project or not want to initiate something but just to wait the government to spoon feeding them.

Myself, I have noticed a lot of development and changes made by the SWAPO government since independence and I cannot fish to list the if I start and that is why also our country is recognised by international world and appreciated for its good governance, the evidence is our people appointed to serve in international bodies and organisation.

On Education, its being claimed to be nothing, but myself wonder why our learners and postgraduate student are being admitted to international institutions and I don't know whether they first have to be re-taught for some period before they proceed with others. I am not saying its perfect but find it to be totally different from the past. e.g. during my time at primary school (late 1980s) a STD 3 = grade 5 now, learner at the school I attended could not write a sentence in English nor can communicate with a Foreigner, but now even a Grade 1 can direct a stranger looking for direction in ENGLISH.

People lets be realistic and criticise farley and also show our initiative instead blaming the government time in and out.

[Oneword]

juikk,


I agree that the tenor of the post is most acceptable; nothing wrong with it, Yes, we all use other names, but I still get a funny feeling when I want to look up the author and the programme comes back "Not registered!" That is my grouse. Not the article. Nothing to do with politics and the article does not have to be removed, either. It is the principle. We are both registered. He/she is not. That is the difference.

Peace, sister!

[juikk]

Tuhafeni, balance in anything we do is good to have. That is how far I will agree with you. As for the development, of course if one belongs to the SWAPO favorite group, one would feel the benefits, hence whereas you can be thankful, same cannot be said about the majority of the country, the south, east and some select areas where SWAPO feels no sympathetic voters are residing. If a majority of needed and basic services are in shumbles, it constitues a failure. Look at it this way, there are certain benchmarks to almost anything in life, e.g. the grading system at a given school. In order to be considered having passed, one has to perform above e.g. 40 %, those that you mentioned to have been a bit of 'success' constitutes as litlltle as 20%, maybe 30% if you wish to be more lenient, 100% being impossible to attain for any government(we would be thankful if SWAPO could at least strive for a 50% score ;-)), but housing is in shambles, part of education(especially tertiary), is for a select groups, and if education is lip serviced to be free but is in actual fact nt, we can up the standards as much as we can, but is it accesible to all, can people afford it?, basic services are too expensive for the average Namibian including access to water, masses go hungry, thus impacting adversely on social issues and escalating the crime rate, effeciency in most ministries is a foreign word, Health care is not up to scratch, look at pensioners grant, you name it, a real bible if you may as per post originator....So all in all, the answer is YES, SWAPO failed and I doubt they will pick up anytime soon, 2 decades is too long a time to keep squandering hard earned tax payer money

[tjommie]

I will not go as far as to say that SWAPO failed, but will go as far as to say that they are busy pushing the "self-destruct" button.

Let me explain.

SWAPO is abandoning internal debate on its policies. The fear of engaging into a "heated"debate with fellow cadres for the good and future of the ruling party is why I feel that the SWAPO party will have no choice but to respond similar to Zanu-PF in future.

The moment people stop debating and move into a zone of acceptance (to the point of blind acceptance) then the future is doomed for its people.

Politics is a living thing. We notice it now in the US where GW Bush is completely and utterly disregarded. The only power that man has now, is VETO power. His nation is fed up with him and want him out. Here we attach almost "godly" status to politicians. Are we crazy? Is it THAT important to former president Nujoma to be know as "Father of the Nation"? How genuine is it really? Did we really mean it as a people or did we only agree to it in order to get the old man to hang up his gloves? Do we challenges his views; do we challenge our leaders' views? The answer my brothers and sisters is: NO! We don't! We do not want to get "involved", because getting involved plainly means an end to any ambition and prosperity that one might be seeking in a free and fair Namibia. We now pose the question: IS Namibia really FREE and FAIR. We claim freedom of expression, speech, etc, etc...but we DO NOT practice it in the street. It is sooo clear that SWAPO is media-phobic....why..? Well, the media is critical of its performance and policies. No government should be given a "blind" vote of confidence, and as Namibians we do that. We give the SWAPO government a vote of confidence in our apathy. And why are we apathetic to politics? If we belong to one of the minority groups we resort to the Owambo masses argument "who will blindly vote for SWAPO". If we are part of the majority we don't want the country to fall into the hands of the "Boers", imperialists and colonialist again.

The truth is that SWAPO failed in getting its electorate and the Namibian nation to partake in active politics. That IS important. For SWAPO to be applicable in the future, they will need to create a culture within the party of debate. No wanting to debate policies and structures will lead to the death and destruction of the party.