The battle for political relevancy

In South Africa, amid all its struggles and strife, including cold meats killing 180 people that became infected with the listeria bacteria, the country's opposition - and more specifically its third largest party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), continues to set the political agenda. Just last week, EFF leader Julius Malema brought a motion to parliament around land expropriation without compensation, which was supported by the ruling African National Congress (ANC), and is expected to result in an amendment to the property rights clause in the country's constitution. Some Namibian analysts have called the move a cynical ploy to garner votes in the 2019 general elections in that country, given the ANC's precarious position after nearly a decade of state capture and corruption revelations during the Jacob Zuma presidency. However, what cannot be denied is that the EFF, with 25 seats out of 400 in the National Assembly, continues to impact South Africa in astounding ways. The party, which was formed in 2013, after Malema was booted out of the ANC after a disciplinary process, managed to garner 1 169 259 votes or 6.35% of the vote in the 2014 general elections, but has consistently punched above its weight, while the ANC's electoral support has waned, amid the Zuma era. In the Namibian context, it is difficult to fathom comparing any opposition party locally to what the EFF continues to accomplish in the neighbouring country, even though their whipping boy, Zuma, has now been resigned to the dustbin of political history, after he's recall by the ANC and Cyril Ramaphosa assuming the role of caretaker head of state earlier this year. Namibia's opposition parties, largely irrelevant because of their often reactive tendencies, instead of leading debates, have a lot to learn. Tactics and strategy is one thing, but what is also required is to have your finger on the pulse of the nation, as it grapples with momentous issues at this time, including an unfolding economic meltdown and the accompanying skyrocketing of retrenchments and unemployment. The psyche of opposition politics in Namibia needs to change, if it is to be more effective in engaging the nation, and the ruling party, when it comes to issues of national interest.