Swapo at 57

Yesterday Swapo celebrated its 57th anniversary even though with not much pomp and fanfare. The party is scheduled to hold a star rally as part of its birthday celebrations this weekend in Otjiwarongo, with head of state Hage Geingob billed as keynote speaker. The mood was relatively quiet and subdued yesterday and not many people were aware that the former liberation movement turned 57 years old. To be quite frank, Swapo has come of age and deserves credit for maintaining peace and stability over the years. Unlike many liberation movements on the continent that are threatened at the polls, Swapo has admirably been growing in leaps and bounds. However, in a country where corruption is rampant and held back by high levels of inequality, poverty and other dire social needs, there is more that needs to be done. Swapo's role was not only to rid the country of apartheid colonialism, but a huge premium was also placed on restoring the dignity of the Namibian people. We must admit that there have been progressive developments over the years, but challenges still persist, especially those affecting the poor and the previously disadvantaged. Land and housing remain two of the most pressing issues in this regard. Despite landslide victories at the polls over the years, Swapo has somewhat been resting on its laurels, partly owing to the ineffective opposition in the country as well as the culture of deploying incompetent party cadres. The Swapo of today is one rocked by factions and infighting. There is clearly a rift between the old guard and the young blood within the party. There is little being advocated on a daily basis to bring about social justice for the suffering masses as the attention is mainly on defending individuals and the leadership and primarily, the unity of the party. It goes without saying that Swapo needs corrective action to return the party to its true self. Lest we forget, Swapo still has the burden of delivering economic prosperity to the previously marginalised Namibians. It is indeed high time for self-examination and the party must listen to the voice of the masses.