Paulus Kapia and the politics of division

Former deputy minister Paulus Kapia has reminded Namibians that the nation’s political past, darkened by divisive rhetoric, is never far from the surface.Kapia was once at the forefront of a politics that thrived on fear and polarisation. In his narrow worldview, anyone outside Swapo is an “enemy” of the country. Journalists performing their duty to hold leaders accountable are branded “unpatriotic.” Now, fresh from wilderness following his 2018 fraud conviction, he has returned with a familiar tactic - attack, belittle, and polarize - rather than inform or inspire.Criticism of opponents is part of any healthy democracy. But when Kapia questioned whether Hidipo Hamutenya deserved burial at Heroes’ Acre because he once left Swapo, he crossed from critique into triviality. Hidipo contributions to Namibia’s liberation struggle are undeniable, and his post-independence political choices do not erase a legacy built on courage and sacrifice.For decades, Namibians have endured the bitterness of political campaigns filled with epithets, boycotts, and threats: from labeling rivals “Judas Iscariot” to declaring regions “no-go zones” for the opposition. These tactics belonged to a bygone era - or so we had hoped.Today, citizens demand substance, not spite. They care about jobs, housing, healthcare, and economic opportunity - not personal vendettas or symbolic gestures. Whether Hidipo is buried in Odibo or Heroes’ Acre does not feed a hungry family, fix a broken road, or create a job in a struggling village.Namibia cannot afford a return to rhetoric that divides rather than unites. Leadership is measured not by how forcefully one attacks rivals, but by how effectively one serves the people. Kapia’s remarks are a stark reminder that the country must resist the pull of bitter politics and insist on leaders who prioritise policy over acrimony.

Paulus Kapia and the politics of division

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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Paulus Kapia and the politics of division

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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