One of the inevitable issues of modern times, and especially in current times, is politics. Each day we inch closer to the national elections and already, even though we still have a ways to go, possible candidates are campaigning at a fast and furious pace. Of course, regarding these candidates, they're all within the same political party and are hoping for the top party spot, which in this country practically means ending up as Head of State. Which in my mind is a sad state of affairs, the fact that the majority party and candidates within that party are all so filled with confidence, have faith in their imminent victory. And why? Because the sheep have been voting for them indiscriminately for the past 22 years.
I simply cannot understand why the voting public does not insist that candidates actively debate on the issues. These candidate play on the sentimentality of their supporters, for all that it's worth. How much longer would we have to hear about the struggle? About how they were pat and partial to the liberation of our country? how much longer will it be ignored that we all still very much in bondage? I am a young woman that grew up in a "free" and independent country, who will always be reminded by my ancestors about how lucky I am that I live in a country where your worth is not determined by my gender or the colour of my skin. So often I want to shout at these same ancestors and tell them that they are spewing lies. Sure, through their eyes I live a better life, a non-discriminatory life, but I still experience discrimination and bondage, the biggest of which is financial.
Here's how I see it - I live in the capital of my country, the economic hub, and still I struggle to make ends meet. Sure, I'm not part of the indigent, I am blessed enough to not live in squalor. That does not demean the fact that it is a daily struggle for me to move beyond the lower middle class where I feel I've been stuck for the past 7 years of my working life. Now imagine how it must feel for those who are truly indigent, who live below the bread line, who doesn't struggle to move up in the world, but to simply make it through the day. the biggest irony? The poor, the struggling, the hopeless, the helpless, are the ones who still cling to the liberation politics spewed during an election year. They are the ones who cling to the fact that they were "liberated" by the majority party, whilst in reality, they are in bondage as much as they were 22 years ago. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule. The Cinderella stories that warm hearts and give hope to the still struggling, but these are few and far between. Then of course there are those who are given "golden" handshakes by the powers that be, because they were in exile during the struggle, or they were born in exile, or they are the children of struggle veterans. Ironically, so many of those who were in exile had opportunities provided to them not readily available to those who stayed in Namibia, who never left, who had to deal with their daily circumstances. The rest of us mere mortals - if we don't put our noses to the grindstone day in and day out, we can kiss our dreams goodbye. But that's not even what irks me the most.
What irks me the most is the fact that I wonder what benefits the indigents, who cling to the majority party, who still swallow the liberation politics, have received. How many of their children, those who were "born free" are living a better life than they did? How many of their children, capable and willing, could afford tertiary education, so as to not just better themselves, but also for the benefit of their community? How many of them have risen above the lifestyle they were living during that very first election? Or are they still living in shacks and cleaning other people's homes? Do any of them ever ask crucial questions during elections or do they accept that the power simply continue to lay in the hands of the few?
Here's the joke - EVEN IF THEY ASK THE QUESTIONS they won't be getting any real answers!!! There are no public debates between election candidates in this country. I haven't seen one yet, and for the time being, I won't be holding my breath. And it is one of my biggest wishes - a debate on a public forum with an INDEPENDENT moderator on the ISSUES. Issues such as the fact that there was a teachers strike and NO ONE walked away satisfied. Issues such as rampant domestic abuse and the fact that the system are not helping the victims satisfactorily e.g. it takes an average of 10 days for an ISSUED protection order to be served on the abuser. SO MUCH can happen in ten days. Issues such as the fact that the police often don't have a vehicle to their disposal to deal with distress calls. I was once standing outside of a locked house as my friend was being attacked. The police arrived more than an HOUR after we called them, and we called them every 5 minutes to find out what's taking so long. Why are we living in a city where the pizza delivery guy is quicker than the cops??? And why is not being dealt with at ministerial level? Some days I feel it's because government simply does not care! Issues such as the fact that small business owners get little to no support from government, and the banks don't help that much either, because small to the man on the street equals worthless to the bank's Business Loan department, and why on earth invest in what you regard as worthless. The issue of a 51% unemployment rate - what on God's green earth is Government even ATTEMPTING to do to rectify that hot mess?? From what I've seen so far in the papers and o the news - sweet blue nothing. And the candidates aren't even touching on it.
So many problems, so many issues, so little being done. We read about the corruption and the violence and the poverty in our papers every damn day. We talk about the fact that Government needs to be transparent and be held accountable for their failures. But come election year, all of those complaints (to a LOT of people) go straight out the window. Then it's all about the struggle, liberation politics and the little that has been accomplished in the past 22 years (and it's not much). Then it's shouts of "Viva" at rallies and through the streets. Party flags are hoisted on rooftops and flyers and posters cover our city walls, cover the abject poverty of many, cover the disgust of others, cover the truth so painfully apparent the minute the last ballot is ticket and the results are in. And then again, those who have been in the plush velvet seats remain there while so many of try to rise above the soot.
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