EDITORIAL: Our number-one enemy

In the parlance of our times, ‘state capture’ - where the political elite and their business buddies conspire to drain state coffers - is arguably our number-one enemy.

This creation of a shadow state, in which government is milked by those connected to the high-ups, is not an animal that only prances around in South Africa or other neighbouring states. It is increasingly a reality in Namibia.

Taking this debate further is the inevitable conclusion that so-called cadre or comrade deployment by ruling parties in the offices, ministries and agencies of government must be seen as the principle enabler to these activities.

In both South Africa and Namibia, we have seen, since liberation, senior and other positions being filled in ministries and state-owned enterprises simply on the basis of the political affiliation of individuals.

It is wholly surprising that civil society has not challenged this cadre deployment in our courts, as it goes against the very grain of putting the country first in a constitutional democracy.

Even party members should be objecting, because in modern-day politics, it is essentially victorious factions that place their members in key positions.

Cadre deployment - where meritocracy has been replaced by pliable party apparatchiks who are either funnelling money to business networks or are incompetent - is a ‘luxury’ Namibia can no longer afford.

This kind of behaviour has taken root, but it’s not too late to weed it out and restore normalcy and meritocracy.