EDITORIAL: Swapo victory a benefit of the doubt

As election results continue to trickle in, it’s clear the people of Namibia are prepared to give Swapo another five years – perhaps this time to rectify its mistakes. It’s not a vote to thank Swapo for anything it has achieved in the past five years, but rather a ‘benefit of the doubt’ vote.

Swapo owes much of this performance not to itself but on the goodwill of the Namibian people, who recognise that on its day, the party can perform – like it did in the 1990s until nearly ten years ago when it decided that the general welfare of the people are no longer its main priority.

The party further owes a debt of gratitude to the scatteredness of the opposition parties, who apart from lacking a clear ideological identity, also took turns to pull each other down in the build-up to this election. Swapo thrives in moments like that.

This is not a reward for good work. Not when unemployment figures are through the roof, the grip of hunger tightens and general living conditions worsening for the common man. Ironically, it is the common man that gave Swapo another chance, this time with hope that the party will use its ears not for decoration but to listen and act.

There coming days will be marked by celebrations. Flags will be hoisted high and Ndilimani music will be played in the highest decibels. Saka is los! But when the dust from dancing in beer halls settles, the challenges that haunted this country for the last eight years will still be here – standing tall and still starring us in the face.