Windhoek – Zimbabwe-born philosopher and public speaker, Josua Maponga, delivered pointed criticisms against Namibia’s ruling party, SWAPO, during its election manifesto discussion on Tuesday. Invited to share insights, Maponga argued that the party, despite its revolutionary roots, has failed to bring meaningful change since independence.
Addressing SWAPO officials and party members, Maponga accused the party of maintaining systems and structures introduced during colonial rule.
“They came back and they sat on the same chairs that the colonizers were sitting on. They became the ministers of health to manage the same health system, ministers of education to manage the same education system, ministers of water to manage the same water policies,” he stated, underscoring what he sees as continuity rather than reform.
One of his most striking points was his criticism of the continued existence of the Red Line, a geographical boundary that separates northern and southern Namibia farming.
“Even as we sit today, we still have the Red Line Zones in Namibia. Who drew these lines? The ‘boere’ and Germans who said if you allow goods to come down here, then the business of the south would go down,” he remarked, pointing to economic disparities tied to colonial-era policies.
Maponga argued that the line still restricts the flow of goods, keeping the north and other areas economically isolated.
The philosopher’s remarks add fuel to ongoing debates about legacy issues from Namibia’s colonial past, emphasizing the calls for re-evaluation of policies for a more inclusive and balanced development trajectory.
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