Socialism with Namibian characteristics

By Dr Ngarikutuke TjiriangeThe end of 2018 was a time to be remembered. I do not remember any other time towards the end of the year during the 28 years of our independence where we had lively debates as the ones that happened during the Swapo extraordinary congress. Although the extraordinary congress passed numerous resolution there was one resolution that caught me by surprise - the resolution on the socialism with Namibian characteristics. When I saw this draft resolution I thought I was dreaming and I immediately pinched one of my hands and then realised I am not dreaming. Although we had enough of what happened in the past and now is the time to concentrate seriously on thinking about what we have to do for the future development of our country, my mind immediately went back to the time when we were about to achieve our independence. What came to my mind was what the South African colonial regime and their Western allies did in their desperate efforts to prevent any socialist economic system to be introduced in Namibia, which was about to become independent. The colonial foreign minister Pik Botha is on record undiplomatically saying that South Africa could not allow Marxist terrorists to overrun the territory, meaning Swapo. The five Western countries all of a sudden came into play and rushed into preparing the so-called constitutional principles. Those so-called principles were intended and designed to pre-empt a radical and revolutionary change in Namibia. What was perceived by the Western countries as extremist and revolutionary policies of some parties, such as Swapo and Swanu, were to be diluted and watered down in favour and in the interests of some moderate and reactionary groups. Some of these Western countries preferred that decisions on how to run our country should rather be made and taken in other countries, instead of by ourselves. CapitalismWith this in mind, they would have liked our leaders to always consult the Western capitals before taking any vital decisions, in order for our country to adhere to Western values but not to what we believe is in the best interests of our people. What the Western countries succeeded in was to impose the economic system, which predominantly is a capitalist system. Now that we have been politically independent for 28 years, the masses of the people should now introduce an economic system of their own choice, which will improve their living standards. It is against this background that I believe that adopting the resolution on socialism with Namibian characteristics is indeed a progressive and timely development. Those who conceived this idea deserve our overwhelming support and praise. Some people may wonder why we came up with this resolution only 28 years after independence. We have to accept the reality that at independence the situation was difficult and complicated, and we had to go through trying times. We had to decide that there would be “all we want and no compromise”, and that could have led to a prolonged struggle, to the detriment of independence. Even the socialist countries that were helping us to fight against the South African colonial regime became victims of the big traps laid by international monopolists. This situation negatively affected not only the liberation movement but also the working classes of the former socialist countries. The South African colonial regime, supported by bureaucratic capitalists and a comprador bourgeoisie, saw the change in former socialist countries as a good opportunity for them to suppress the liberation movement, which they perceived to be communist terrorists. However, be that as it may, Namibian revolutionaries uphold correct and progressive policies. Accepting some of the colonial laws, including the constitutional principles, was indeed not a sign of capitulation and did not mean that the liberation leaders had abandoned the radical principles of the struggle, neither did they agree to end the armed struggle without a commitment by the colonisers to leave Namibia. But at that time it was absolutely critical and logical for negotiating parties to seek ways and means to speed up the liberation struggle and end the war.Now, 28 years after independence, the time has come for us to achieve the aims and objectives of the liberation struggle without compromise. The time is now for Namibia to seriously implement the resolution of the Swapo extraordinary congress, which concerns the introduction of a socialist system with Namibian characteristics. It is obvious that the implementation of this new policy may require some drastic changes in our laws, including some provisions of the Namibian Constitution. Such changes should surely not be retrogressive but progressive, since they are intended to bring about a good life and equal benefits for the masses of our people. One thing is for sure, we as a revolutionary people cannot just stick to something, even if that thing has become an intolerable albatross. I really hope that the system of socialism with Namibia characteristics will address the burning issues that affect the masses of our people and level the economic playing field, where all stakeholders will feel that they are benefiting equally from the economic resources of the country.Mammoth task The extraordinary congress adopted the resolution as a policy instrument, therefore there must be a special committee that will work out details of what we mean when we are talking about socialism with Namibian characteristics. This is, indeed, a mammoth task. The time is now that we have to resist the pressure from those countries that want us to believe that it is only through capitalism that we can develop our economy; hence the need for all of us to support the resolution.One vital fact that we must have in mind when we talk about socialism with Namibian characteristics is that we should not fail to analyse Namibian society and identify the class forces. If we cannot do so, we will just rely on phrase-mongering, and whatever resolution and actions we adopt and take will be doomed to lead to confession. We should also not use imperialists' money to promote and build socialism, because this should not be in the interest of capitalist classes. The intended socialism with Namibian characteristics may enable the state to reduce the unemployment rate, thus improving the living conditions of the working class. We have to understand that good and wonderful phrase-mongering will not change the capitalist mentality of the capitalist classes. Moreover, we must seriously consider having revolutionaries with ideological grounding in positions of power. Right now eclecticism prevails amongst us and this allows pseudo-revolutionaries and pseudo-socialists to push and direct the perceived party ideology. Proper principles of socialism can only be upheld and achieved in our party and the country if the party structures are headed by cadres armed with a scientific ideology. Fake leaders in positions of power therefore are just likely to drive the party and the country into a political and economic demise. It is therefore clear that it will be difficult for the party and state machinery, which is serving the interest of the bourgeoisies, to adjust and serve the interest of the labouring classes.Now that we are entering an era of introducing socialism with Namibian characteristics, the ideological struggle will go on. We must therefore find a clear and constructive way forward, instead of trying to impress and please those who will never shed tears if we happen to fail. Finally, the party must avoid having people in leadership positions who are just in those positions to use phrase-mongering for their own political and economic interests. Ideological clarity and revolutionary commitment will be the only ability that will help the party cadres to understand where they are leading the people. Aluta continua is not only meant to continue the struggle with military equipment, but more so with a clear revolutionary and progressive mindset, which is going to liberate people from the evils of poverty and a miserable life. But military equipment must always be there to protect our hard-won independence and freedom; without that we cannot maintain our peace and stability.

Socialism with Namibian characteristics

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-25

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Socialism with Namibian characteristics

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-25

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