Africa-Press – Namibia. I have been following national and international politics over the years. To any political scholar or mere political enthusiast, the legislative branch of the state plays an important role in shaping both the socio-economic and political future of any country.
The National Assembly is the body that passes crucial laws that affect every citizen in one way or another. In the Namibian political context, Article 46 provides that the 96 members of the National Assembly be elected by the Namibian citizens by “direct and secret” ballot.
All the elected members who meet the requirements take an oath to uphold and defend as the supreme law the Namibian Constitution.
The multiparty democratic system allows the Namibian parliament to be decorated with members from different political parties. Over the past few years, parliament sessions have been boring. The ruling party enjoyed a habitual two-thirds majority that made passing laws in their favour easy due to little or no strong opposition.
Even the parliament sessions have been tedious and monotonous in nature. However, the situation has changed.
The controversial results of the 27 November 2024 elections brought us a real and clear definition of the Western-imposed democratic political system. The results piloted a new era that manifested a significant rise in the seats occupied by opposition parties, as well as the emergence of new faces in the parliament.
A number of new opposition parties also joined the parliament, even outstripping the ones we were used to.
One of the most significant faces is that of Job Amupanda, a young and intelligent politician and academic. We have known Amupanda through radical activism.
Apart from intermittently exposing corrupt individuals and cabals, he is also famously known for his advocacy on issues surrounding land and the total removal of the colonial cordon fence at Oshivelo.
He serves on a well-deserved ticket of the Affirmative Repositioning, a radical activism movement-cum-political party.
Politics, as an art, is not concerned with individuals in what I term their ‘who-ness’. It is rather concerned with ideas and the individual’s ability to practically apply their skills, experience, as well as intuition, in achieving good governance.
For many reasons, the seventh parliament is inevitably lively and interesting. The discussions are not those of mere political point scoring, but those of nation building.
Amupanda’s interventions are always rich in content and context – a man speaking directly to the ears of the people; a representative of the future and not just a reservist and conservationist of the past.
While he does acknowledge the contributions made by our liberation stalwarts, Amupanda advocates a liveable future, especially for us, the young generation.
A Swapo card-holding member myself, I, with no fear, commend Amupanda and wish him Solomonic wisdom as a politician and parliamentarian of our era.
I wish both the speaker and her deputy strength in accommodating him.
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