Voting is an expression of your position on issues that affect Namibia. Those who register and vote, care about Namibia. Those who are registered and do not vote, are people who have stated that they don’t care whether they live free or not. They have stayed at home on Election Day and abdicated their right to complain about anything.
Many people have their points of view about heavy issues that affect the country. You can hear them chattering away about their laundry list of what is going wrong. When they have the chance to stand up and make a difference by voting, they do nothing. They are not willing to step up to the ballot box and ACT on what they think and feel.
Niggling gossipers, naysayers, yes-men, happy clappers, and back stabbers talk too much. Then, when it comes time to put up or shut up, they are missing in action. Too many people like to sit on the sidelines and complain, criticize and make noise. When it is time to step up and make a difference, they are quick to offer useless excuses.
“My vote doesn’t mean anything.” “Nothing ever changes.” “It doesn’t matter who is in office.” “The lines are too long.” “The voting is disorganized.” These and dozens of other statements are typical cop-out, weak-kneed comments. People do not get a pass on participating in democracy. Those who want democracy and yet will do nothing to protect it are the worst enemies of freedom.
The government often mistakenly harps on the issue that there is a ‘peaceful and stable’ Namibia. They claim this situation as something Swapo won for the people of Namibia. Making this statement in 2020 does more harm than good. The United Nations and other international service organizations equate poverty to instability and violence.
They make a convincing statistical case that those living in cyclical, generational, grinding poverty, eating from garbage dumps, living in tin shacks and fighting to stay safe and not be raped, is in fact a life of violence. It is social violence that guns down the heart, soul and spirit of human beings day after day with no end in sight.
Poverty is unjust. A lack of justice in a society is inherently unstable. Saying Namibia is stable and peaceful is, arguably not quite true. Those who want real peace and stability must go the polls, become active and alert and VOTE.
Those from the previous dispensation who want Namibia to go back to the good ‘ol days (for them) of apartheid and colonialism (or at least subservience to whites), have the right to go to the polls and vote for that.
Those who are committed to the ruling party and see the many advancements and developments they have achieved for this nation need to go to the polls and vote for their candidates.
Those who are enamoured of Affirmative Repositioning and the young firebrands who have been walking the talk of social justice to the best of their ability, need to go to the polls and vote for that.
There are nearly 100 independent candidates. Those who do not see the value in the party system for candidates at the local level, need to come to the polls and vote for that. Let those directly elected to these seats (not by party) be accountable as individuals for public performance that benefits their constituents.
The other opposition parties have points of view that many resonate in various areas. Those who feel the vibe of those positions must get up and go vote for that.
What is unacceptable is to have a position on this nation’s future and how it should be run and your opinion dies as you sit at home on Election Day.
How many will take the holiday given by the President and go to a lodge to have a nice holiday out of town? How many will use the day to clean out the garage, do long overdue gardening, get their hair or nails done, or sleep late?
We are especially vociferous about voting in this particular election because usually for the regional elections there is an extremely low voter turnout. It is not enough for you to vote; you must harass every registered voter in your household to do so. Go as a family group. Stand socially distant (where possible) from others. Wear your mask! Bring along a bottle of water (go to the bathroom before you leave home) and hand sanitizers. Keep a positive attitude while you wait and know that the commitment of your time in line (we are voting manually this time) is the least you can do to maintain the freedoms you enjoy.
Get out to vote on November 25th.
