Citizens should be at the centre
The African and global political conundrum has remained unchanged for as long as most of us can remember.
Instead of seeing those in governments who are servant leaders, and who resist power and reflect humility, you see a gluttonous quest for power and the fulltime gratification of ego.
During 2014, Namibia successfully conducted presidential and National Assembly elections with a turnout of voters of 72% (890 738) of the 1 241 194 registered voters in the national voters' register, up about four percentage points from the 2009 polls.
The Africa Check analysis makes for interesting reading.
In the previous four elections, Swapo won about 75% of the seats in the National Assembly, with its presidential candidates - Sam Nujoma in 1994 and 1999 and Hifikepunye Pohamba in 2004 and 2009 - pulling in around the same.
The opposition make up the rest, but that share becomes more fractured with each election. A 23.7% haul for the DTA in 1994 was worn down over the years to single digits.
The Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), which burst onto the scene in 2009, became the official opposition with only 11.3 percent pulling power.
In 2014, the DTA, now known as the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), replaced the RDP as the official opposition, while Swapo scored massive landslides in both the National Assembly and presidential electoral races.
But where has all these statistics left citizens?
It could be succinctly and effectively argued that Swapo, in the absence of any real opposition remains at the centre of power, along with its president at any given stage.
However, internationally, public administration is increasingly concerned with placing citizens at the centre of policymakers' considerations, not just as target, but also as agent.
The aim is to develop policies and design services that respond to individuals' needs and are relevant to their circumstances.
Closer to home, there seems to be a lack of a deeply embedded service ethic, that can be used as a foundation for embedding an equally deep ethos of civic engagement across the country.
Neither State House nor a ruling party should be at the centre of power. That place belongs to citizens.
Instead of seeing those in governments who are servant leaders, and who resist power and reflect humility, you see a gluttonous quest for power and the fulltime gratification of ego.
During 2014, Namibia successfully conducted presidential and National Assembly elections with a turnout of voters of 72% (890 738) of the 1 241 194 registered voters in the national voters' register, up about four percentage points from the 2009 polls.
The Africa Check analysis makes for interesting reading.
In the previous four elections, Swapo won about 75% of the seats in the National Assembly, with its presidential candidates - Sam Nujoma in 1994 and 1999 and Hifikepunye Pohamba in 2004 and 2009 - pulling in around the same.
The opposition make up the rest, but that share becomes more fractured with each election. A 23.7% haul for the DTA in 1994 was worn down over the years to single digits.
The Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), which burst onto the scene in 2009, became the official opposition with only 11.3 percent pulling power.
In 2014, the DTA, now known as the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), replaced the RDP as the official opposition, while Swapo scored massive landslides in both the National Assembly and presidential electoral races.
But where has all these statistics left citizens?
It could be succinctly and effectively argued that Swapo, in the absence of any real opposition remains at the centre of power, along with its president at any given stage.
However, internationally, public administration is increasingly concerned with placing citizens at the centre of policymakers' considerations, not just as target, but also as agent.
The aim is to develop policies and design services that respond to individuals' needs and are relevant to their circumstances.
Closer to home, there seems to be a lack of a deeply embedded service ethic, that can be used as a foundation for embedding an equally deep ethos of civic engagement across the country.
Neither State House nor a ruling party should be at the centre of power. That place belongs to citizens.
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Namibian Sun
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