EDITORIAL

The phony attempts by mainly men in the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) to undermine its president Esther Muinjangue will only further dissuade women from entering politics — a blow to a group already grossly underrepresented in that space.

The desperation to find fault in Muinjangue, such as questioning the appointments of aides in her private office as health minister, is the clearest indication that her detractors will stop at nothing to throw mud at her, hoping it would stick.

The same Nudo faction is charging at Muinjangue for her liberal views on abortion, which she believes would make life better for many women. They are accusing her of not considering Nudo’s supposed “constituent tradition and religious approvals”.

While it is true that Muinjangue is serving on a Nudo ticket, it is also worth noting that as a parliamentarian and deputy minister, her loyalty is to Namibia and not only Nudo.

While women have made significant inroads into politics in recent years, thanks to deliberate artificial interventions, their involvement has spurred attacks, intimidation and harassment. Muinjangue will live to tell her tale one day.

We have no business prescribing to Nudo members how they should handle their internal affairs, but the mickey mouse reasons used to attack Muinjangue in recent days are cheap shots anchored in patriarchal and factional entitlements in one of the most uninspiring political formations in the country.