AN ideology can be defined and or described as a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Yours Truly Ideologically is deliberately invoking the definition ideology because ideology is something many, if not most if not all, Namibian political parties and formations take for granted. This is despite their claims, and/or pretentions to being players on the local political terrain aspiring, for some illusively ambitiously so, to political power. But once obtaining such political power it has never been clear what they want to do with it, based on what ideology and/or philosophy and whether that which they promises, most of the times for that matter which are empty promises, if not wishful thinking, is attainable and workable or not.
Let alone if the ideology that informs their policies, if the policies of any and/or most of them are at all worth the papers they are written on. With most of such policies, ideologically baseless as they have been for most if not all, being at best nothing but an amalgam of empty promises if not wishful thinking.
But going from the definition of ideology, it is instructive to note that it is a basis of any economic and political theory and policy. Meaning any political party and/or formation must as of essence have economic and political policies based on a particular ideology, which as matter of conviction as opposed to convenience, shall make a difference between its mere aspiration to take over the reigns of power of the country to, foremost change the obtaining situation from its desired one based on its ideology.
“The struggle for human emancipation has to be a total struggle against colonialism as a destructive symptom of the greater evil of capitalism, scheming to internationalise and making itself permanent,” writes Canaan S, Banana, first President of an independent Zimbabwe in his introduction to his booklet: Towards A Socialist Ethos.
Namibia attained political independence in 1990. Does it mean the struggle is over. One can answer this question depending on one’s philosophical/ideological understanding and/or perception as to, in the first instance whether the struggle for political independence was an end in itself or not. But whatever the answer may be, conscious of the continuous jostling for power among the various political parties and formations, and the promises to better things by each, the question begging is better from what to what. This again can be answered ideologically. Why the status is the better for those who may thing the status quo is the better and for those who think is not what their better is. This status in Namibia being currently the obtaining capitalists system. Those promising better is it in terms of reforming this capitalists system? Or it needs a complete overhaul and overthrowing? If overthrowing what do they suggest it be replaced with. Once again a matter of ideological and/or philosophical outlook.
Is coming to power to make a fundamental change in the material being of society. For only competition based on the aspiration to make a difference in the material well being of society, and thus in the economy of the country as the base, can bring about real change in the standard of living of the populace. A matter which ideology equally has a critical bearing on. But which currently among Namibia’s political pretenders is grossly ignored. With the political pretenders mostly feeding the electorate on a political diet of superficial promises, essentially geared towards just shifting the furniture in the old dilapidated economic and political edifice and fabric of capitalism that has little to do with fundamentally changing it and thus the material well being of the populace.
A factor oF the lack of ideology amongst most of the political parties and formations. With those pretentious of having any ideology usually lacking the requisite conviction in their assumed and presumed ideology, let alone a deep-rooted understanding thereof. As a result there has been little to choose from among the various Namibian political parties and formations in terms of ideology with most if not all of them seeming to believing in capitalism, as much as the real essence and understanding of the capitalist system itself has been dismally wanting among many of them. If not accepted by most of them its failings and continuous exploitation of the vast majority of the population notwithstanding. Resultantly also there has been little to choose among the various political parties in terms of the presumably different policies but which in essence have been identical. The only difference being the way in which they have been articulated based on the articulateness of their proponents.
In this regard it is gratifying to see political parties and formations giving their policies serious attention in view of the Presidential and National Assembly elections next year. Surely Yours Truly Ideologically, as indeed the electorate, would hope and expect such policy exercises to be ideologically infused rather than mere workshopping exercises not geared towards a serious introspection of the current state of affairs in the country, especially economically. It is and cannot be about simply tampering about the current economic system of the country, which has been described (Constitutionally) as a mixed economy. But in all earnest, based on their respective ideologies the various political parties and formation must be able to impress upon the electorate, based on their respective ideologies, why the politico-economic status quo is the desired one. Based on its serious and deep-rooted introspection and interrogation. Only then would any of the political parties and formations be worth to listen to and
/or deserving of the votes of the electorate come next year. Surely after 32 years of business as usual it cannot be and shouldn’t be business as usual where most if not all of the p9olitical parties seem to have gotten the votes of the electorate on a silver platter. With little ideological meaning of their policies. Policies which most of the political parties and formations for that matter have seem to have little understanding of let alone little conviction in them.
