The death of opposition

Opposition parties in Namibia face an uphill battle and major obstacles to wining majority support. Although we have seen liberation movements in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe continually losing some electoral support over the years, the issue has been quite different in Namibia, where Swapo remains the party of choice for many. Having secured close to 87% of the total vote in the presidential elections in 2014 and about 80% in the National Assembly elections, Swapo's victory was an honest reminder that opposition parties aren't trusted by many and are therefore not seen as a viable alternative to the all-conquering ruling party. Some local opposition parties have been their worst enemy. Just recently, the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) failed to hold a successful congress to elect a new leadership, after violence broke out between party members as the leadership battle intensified. The Worker's Revolutionary Party is also in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. This relatively new party has been dogged by infighting since the last general elections and there appears to be no end in sight to the deadlock. Another party that has lost focus is the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP). The once official opposition, which was established by chiefly disgruntled Swapo members, is now on political life support and the least said about the Congress of Democrats (CoD), the better. However, it is not all doom and gloom as we have seen the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), which is headed by the youthful McHenry Venaani, doing everything possible to remain relevant in the public eye. Venaani and his party must now prove their mettle and popularity at the ballot box next year. Yes, it is true that a fragmented and disoriented opposition, with no ideology, is never good for our democracy. Political parties must realise this and step up a notch, by offering alternatives and setting the agenda for the many issues facing Namibians. Swapo, with its many weaknesses, will forever be comfortable, as long as there is no serious challenge from the opposition ranks. This makes our politics sterile and poorer, as far as holding power accountable is concerned.