Political manifestos fail LGBTQ community, social equity test

Namibian political parties have a national reputation for over-delivering on their manifesto promises and making a mockery of themselves for under-delivering after elections.

A manifesto is simply a written declaration of a political party's intentions or an expression of their aims, programmes and policies.

Manifestos form a crucial part of political strategy to garner support for candidates and parties. Therefore, they should be accessible and available to the general public.

Some manifesto promises may not resonate with voters. This, I argue, is because of a lack of a consultation with voters or because complex manifestos that are overly complex and are not presented in laymen’s terms for ease of understanding.

But campaign slogans and headline promises contained in manifestos can have a significant impact, influence media narratives, and even affect voter behaviour.

In recent weeks, political parties from different spheres of Namibia released their political manifestos. Notable ones are the Republican Party (RP), Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and the South West African National Union (Swanu), and most recently, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and Swapo.

Most manifestos focus on addressing economic disparities that a majority of Namibians are facing, such as PDM's promise to increase oil shares and build factories in each constituency.

Major political parties rightly focus on the economy, but social equity is just as important. If a certain group is not regarded as equal, how can we ensure the fair distribution of resources and wealth?



Crucial gap

Effective governance and progressive politics must recognise the interplay between economic growth and social equity, as Nancy Fraser emphasised when she posed the question "redistribution or recognition?" in relation to social justice.

Recognition without redistribution can result in superficial measures that don't address the underlying causes of inequality, while economic progress without social equity can exacerbate structural inequities.

The obvious problem that these manifestos frequently fail to address is a defence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA) rights. In Namibia, political parties often ignore this important topic, even in the face of recent court decisions that have confirmed the necessity of legal protections for LGBTQIA people.

PDM's manifesto contained promises targeting the LGBTQIA community in 2021, but the party did not even mention them in this year’s manifesto.

This gap must be addressed and manifestos should pledge to pass laws that uphold the rights of LGBTQIA people. In addition to ignoring the actual legal and social environment, excluding such measures also goes against the fairness and equitable values that need to be at the centre of any political agenda.



Trust and support

Political parties should also include plans in their manifestos that they intend to pursue, whether they win or lose. The role of opposition parties post-election is crucial in shaping Namibia's future.

Promises like building schools or a classroom or two should not be solely regarded as only implementable once a political party is voted into power. With proper planning and even a small budget, opposition parties can achieve some of their goals.

In conclusion, Namibian political parties' manifestos often overlook crucial issues like LGBTQIA rights, highlighting a gap in political discourse. A well-rounded manifesto should engage with voters, incorporate concerns and translate complex policies into accessible language. It should extend beyond election victories and remain actionable, fostering a more equitable society.

A balanced approach to economic progress and social justice is key to gaining the electorate's trust and support.



*Shonena V. Nathanael is a human rights activist and an English and linguistics student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. Contact him at [email protected].