Shut it already, Helmut

Former Minister Helmut Angula’s call for Swapo’s next presidential candidate to be drawn from the Tanganyika Group cannot be left unchallenged.

We have no business in telling Swapo who their next candidate in the 2014 general elections should be, but as Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana likes to say, when Swapo sneezes, the whole country catches the flu. Along that line of thinking, therefore, we deemed it fit that we too shall have a say in things that affect us.

The Tanga Group boasts leaders such as President Pohamba who, not long ago, told the youth off when they claimed to be revolutionaries in their own right. And now Angula pops up to tell the nation that the Tanga Group should supply the third successive president. What about other generations in the ruling party, some of whom are doing a great job at the moment?

To Angula, the Tanga Group represents perfection. It is the ultimate yardstick of good leadership and sacrifice. Yes, that group of leaders has served Namibia well. Its contribution is publicly hailed by the nation and that is why the electorate gave it a mandate to rule since Independence.

The late Mose Tjitendero, Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab, Hidipo Hamutenya, Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, the late Moses Garoeb, Dr Libertine Amadhila and Ben Amathila are all recognised for their unselfish contribution to the life we live today as an independent country. We are not opposed to anyone becoming president but belonging to a certain generation or section of society should not be used as a benchmark for electing such people into power.

It is the same opinion we hold against current calls for the next president to be from this or that tribe. Namibia is not a farm whose sole owner can rotate the position of foreman from one individual to another.

A country is too big a responsibility to be rotated amongst a circle of friends and allies. If anyone from the Tanga Group, or indeed any other group within Swapo, becomes the party’s candidate in the next presidential elections, such persons must be in contention because he or she possesses the necessary qualities to address the complex needs of our country.

It should not be because that person is from this or that tribe, man or woman or because he or she belongs to this generation of leaders.

Nature dictates that all generations have their specific responsibilities - dictated by the time of their existence. Some fought the political war; others will be required to win the economic battle.