Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Political commentator and Swapo veteran Ben Mulongeni advised Swapo vice president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah that if she wants to govern effectively, she should choose her top 10 candidates at the party’s electoral college based on their competence rather than their loyalty.
Mulongeni shared this opinion during an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday, where he discussed the upcoming party electoral college or POT.
Mulongeni believes that loyalty alone does not lead to success or benefit the country.
“We have already seen how loyalty has been messed up during campaigns. Imagine telling people that if they don’t vote for Swapo, they will not go to heaven. Is Swapo God now? That is loyalty speaking and it is loyalty of the stomach. Sometimes I want to cover my ears when these people are talking. Instead of telling people what your government is going to do for them, you choose to talk nonsense,” expressed Mulongeni.
He believes loyalists act in their own interests rather than the nation’s.
Mulongeni said that competence and knowledge are the keys to leadership success in running an effective government.
The electoral college, slated for 6 to 8 September, is set to elect 96 Swapo members who will be on the party’s parliamentary list for the November presidential and National Assembly elections.
Rule 52.3 of Swapo’s rules and procedures for electing office-bearers mandates the party president or vice president to nominate 10 additional people for the parliament list.
The 10 presidential appointees are integrated into the party’s list from positions 20 up to 40, increasing their chances of going to Parliament and occupying critical government positions.
Mulongeni advised Nandi-Ndwaitwah to appoint people who are critical, even of her, because they will help her to govern better as they will be loyal to the course.
He added that Nandi-Ndaitwah should also consult senior party members and experts on leadership before picking her nominees.
“Normally, she is supposed to consult, but she is probably already surrounded by hyenas and crocodiles who are ready to fill their stomachs, giving her advice that will only benefit them,” Mulongeni stated.
He also dismissed the party secretary general’s assertions that Swapo would regain its two-thirds majority in parliament.
According to Mulongeni, the electorate has the power to decide that, not Sophia Shaningwa.
Another Swapo veteran and former ambassador, Tuliameni Kalomoh, said Nandi-Ndaitwah should consider both competence and loyalty when picking her nominees.
According to Kalomoh, she would want both competent people to do the job and loyal people who she can trust to deliver on her behalf.
“I would say a combination of both, you wouldn’t want to surround yourself with people who are competent, but at the same time, they are not loyal to you. They can sabotage and deliberately fail your government,” said Kalomoh.
He also dismissed the notion that the party will regain its two-thirds majority, stating that it’s not up to the leadership but the voters.
“We have no opinion polls in Namibia. What I sense from the ground is the enthusiasm from the electorate, but that does not mean they will deliver the two-thirds majority for the party. It is something you can’t measure because we don’t have opinion polls in this country,” added Kalomoh.
