Moses K. Katjioungua
25 April 2008
Windhoek — The CoD Majority under the leadership of Nora Schimming-Chase, MP, is "100,000"% (percent) behind the heroic and courageous people of Zimbabwe in their just and democratic struggle against a callous and calamitous dictator and the economic and political beneficiaries and stooges of his regime.
We greatly admire the free and patriotic citizens and business people, like Vekuui Rukoro, for standing up in support of the people of Zimbabwe in their darkest hour since independence in 1980, and for having the civil courage, mincing no words, and calling a spade a spade, in their unwavering condemnation of the atrocities of a brutal and illegitimate regime and its crooked political supporters, at home and abroad.
The CoD Majority, like all civilized and fair-minded and honest people around the globe, was utterly shocked in disbelief, shocked beyond our wildest imagination, to hear from the SADC Leaders at the Emergency Indaba in Lusaka that there was no "crisis" in Zimbabwe and that the delay in the announcement of the results of the Presidential Vote was legally procedural and that we should wait for the ruling of the Zimbabwe High Court (on Monday, April 15, 2008). This was typical political chicanery.
"SWAPO of Namibia (the South West Africa People's Organization) appears completely confused about the developments in Zimbabwe. Its position is in utter disarray.
Our President, Hifikepunye Lukas Pohamba, even went out of his way on arrival back home from Lusaka to try to appease Mugabe by saying that the Zimbabwe High Court would soon amicably resolve the elections issue, the controversial issue of the Presidential Vote, before there is any need for outside interference.
He said: "Immediately after the Court pronounces itself, the Electoral Commission will have to announce the results in accordance with the law."
This appears to be a misjudgement. What he predicted did not happen. The opposite - the perpetuation, the stalemate, the uncertainty, remained.
The disarray in SWAPO policy on Zimbabwe was also perpetuated by other events, namely:
a) Jerry Ekandjo, who once said in Sweden in 1991 that it would not be fair and necessary to blame the Whites or Apartheid for the lack of development progress in Namibia after 10-15 years of Independence, is reported in the local newspapers that we should not meddle in the Zimbabwe situation and should leave it to the people of Zimbabwe to resolve it.
b) Elijah Ngurare told us on the Talk of the nation to put all the blame for the mess in Zimbabwe on the British and Americans and the West generally and to support "our friends" in ZANU-PF.
c) The President is stone silent about the outcome of the trips to Zimbabwe by his Special Envoy, Dr Hage Godfried Geingob, and Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku.
The question now is: Where does Namibia stand on the situation in Zimbabwe today?
If the Namibian Constitution is the basis for our domestic and foreign policies, then President Pohamba, and SWAPO should be careful to preach democracy, the rule of law, transparency, accountability, unity and good governance at home while dancing tango with dictators abroad.
They can embarrass you at the wrong time and in an unexpected manner.
If the SWAPO Administration, not the so-called SWAPO-led Government, because we neither have a Coalition Government nor a Government of National Unity, but a SWAPO majority government, followed Article 96 of the Namibian constitution, on foreign relations, we would not be confused on Zimbabwe or find ourselves in foreign adventures like in the DRC or the civil war in Angola.
The relevant Article (96) says:
a) Adopts and maintains a policy of Non-alignment;
b) Promotes international co-operation, peace and security;
c) Creates and maintains just and mutually beneficial relations among nations;
d) Fosters respect for international law and treaty obligations;
e) Encourages the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means.
To ignore the yawning but tightening time-gap between the announcement of the Parliament and Local Government Elections and the missing Presidential Vote for more than three weeks after the elections and to declare 'No Crisis" in Zimbabwe in Lusaka and then to go back home, pressured by opposite views by your own party, and shift gear 180 degrees, calling for a "rapid release" of the Presidential Election result, smack of frightening political cowardice and a monumental degree of political opportunism by the majority of SADC leaders.
A few years ago, the OAU, now the AU, made a declaration in Harare that African Governments by coup d'état would not be acceptable or recognized. Why now accept, or acquiesce, in a fraudulent de facto political coup d'état manufactured by Robert Mugabe in the very same Harare?
Inconsistency or, again, political opportunism par excellence?
History is replete with examples of people, leaders, coming to power by democratic processes or through just revolutionary wars of liberation only to become Nazi fascists, dictators, rich capitalists at the expense of their own poor people or oppressors of their own citizens.
Adolf Hitler and Robert Mugabe are just two such cases.
Realistic, honest and practical people would not close their eyes when a liberation war hero turns into a "Fuhrer". Sometimes it is doubtful if the current failures and crimes of war heroes do not outweigh their historic achievements and contributions, on balance.
The Liberation/Independence struggles were, in essence, about a better future and not an end in themselves. Therefore, while they will always serve as a guide and source of reference and inspiration, they should not be abused for covering up wrongs and weaknesses or used as tranquilizers for those pressing for fundamental and speedy economic, social and political transformations of their societies to create justice, equality, equity and fair opportunities for all.
To go to the marathon Lusaka Indaba and then declare that there was no "crisis" in Zimbabwe was not only a waste of time and taxpayers' money, but was, indeed, an unfortunate confirmation of what President Levy Mwanawasa said prior to the Emergency Summit: It was to turn "a blind eye when a neighbour's house is on fire".
A so-called second ballot run-off in the absence of a verified Presidential vote and a recount of some votes, after such a long time, in "Buntuland" is a camouflaged pat on the back of a notorious and fraudulent pariah and a legitimization of an illegal regime.
Any new elections or recount must be done in the presence of the UN and other /neutral observers with access to all the areas where the business is taking place.
No accomplices of the Mugabe regime should be involved.
If the SADC leaders cannot reprimand/punish their colleague for electoral fraud, indiscipline, pugnacity and insubordination, then the SADC Elections guidelines and protocols are mere toothless bulldogs and useless paper tigers, which can be ignored.
How many times, Mr Robert Gabriel Mugabe, will Mr Morgan Tsvangirai be committing "treason"?
One would hope that the SADC leaders do understand that elections are a process and not an act, by their very worldwide definition.
They start with voter registration, voter education and fair demarcation of electoral districts and constituencies and the distribution of voting points, peaceful, democratic and transparent electioneering (campaigning), counting and tabulating of ballot papers and results, and equally fair and transparent announcement of the results.
Therefore the success of one aspect of the process does not necessarily ensure the automatic success of the entire electoral process.
That is to say, voting can be one thing but the "playing" and tampering with ballot boxes and counting and tabulating results is another kettle of fish.
The CoD Majority, the majority that walked out at Keetmanshoop and whose ultimate validity can only be tested and verified at the next Special CoD Congress. (The pending Court case and taking into account tragedies, desertions and disappeared renegades.)
We maintain, as a matter of reality - empirical evidence - and scientific analysis, that in emerging and transitional societies, such as ours, democracy and democratic culture and behaviour can neither be said to have taken root nor be taken for granted.
Kenya and Zimbabwe are both older democracies than Namibia and now see what has happened after all these years.
Recently, we have seen how leaders who recently committed themselves to term limitations have tried to reverse the process and extend their stay in office.
Listen: The KANU 1992 Elections Manifesto and Policy Document:
"We remember with pride that KANU is the Party that dismantled the yoke of colonialism and brought independence to our beloved country. We have witnessed three decades blessed by peace, stability and progress. Indeed our country has truly remained an island of peace in a sea of turmoil."
(This was KANU President Daniel arap Moi.)
But what happened last year and what's the situation now?
Permanent democracy and democratic behaviour and culture in these societies, we maintain, remain fragile and must be nursed and nourished with great and constant care.
Never take anything for granted.
And that not for a long while to come.
Dictatorial trends and inclinations, adherents of one-party states, or promoters of "71 Seats" in a multi-party democracy and fraudsters of all "denominations" forms, shapes and colours are still, unfortunately, rampant and in abundance.
When the tyranny of the majority and the theft of the voice of the majority are real, not perceived, threats to democracy, we must remain on constant vigilance.
Long live the heroic and courageous sisters and brothers of Zimbabwe! Victory belongs to those daring to struggle and daring to win!
Moses K. Katjioungua is a Vice-Chair and Spokesperson of the CoD Majority
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