Dear Editor,

A SOUTH African-based Namibian political scientist and analyst, Dr Joseph Diescho, was interviewed by New Era, as published on May 16, 2007 to comment on COD’s leadership crisis. Dr. Diescho was quoted as saying, “…the fish is rotten at the head” and “called on Ulenga to declare the election results of the extraordinary congress null and void”.  Is the “rotten fish” a reference to Ben Ulenga? 
It is not surprising that Dr. Diescho’s comments about COD are based on the information he has obtained from his distant binoculars and in-camera facilities which are limited and in most instances are released as biased if not poorly investigated information from the Namibian print and broadcast media.  Those of us who observe, witness and share the daily political developments will be at pains to swallow Diescho’s impartial or little-informed comments and  advice. 
Does Ulenga have any power to declare the election results “null and void”?  Was it not the legitimate delegates, including the Shixwameni faction, that elected Ben Ulenga as president of COD? Nora Schimming-Chase and Ignatius Shixwameni, participated and they lost the election.  It was their job as part of the leadership, if they did not want Ulenga to stand again, to convince him before hand.  They should have known that Ulenga was contesting to win and would not have expected Ulenga to campaign for them and if they did it would be an insult to COD members who supported Ulenga! The faction claimed that there is a “leadership crisis” but failed to explain itself at the extraordinary congress. 
The fact remains that this was not a COD crisis but an extension of family and personal crises.  What do you do with a person who cannot reconcile with him or herself? What explanation are you going to give to an independent observer, and over 150 delegates who stay-put, the general party membership and the people of Namibia?  Do you say that the extraordinary elections were rigged or say that “some very important politicians hate the face of Ben Ulenga to be  a president of COD”? It is then the people’s wishes, dreams and ideas that must form the party’s agenda and not the personal interests of the Ulengas, Schimming-Chases, Shixwamenis, Diendas, Gertzes or Dempers.  There is only one option for them:  to cooperate or be put on early retirements.  There are many cooperative, disciplined and informed members who can do the job.  Make no mistake!  It does not mean if the party is small then those on top have to threaten to “kill” it if not given what they want.  That is political embarrassment. To the contrary, when Dr. Diescho’s nomination to lecture the Oshana Regional Council, at a Strategic Leadership Workshop was cancelled by the recipients, he had the following to say, “…. The issue that warrants legal litigation is the language which the Governor and members of his team used to cast aspersions on my work as a specialized professional in the subject I was to present.  Is it not rather interesting that there had been Cabinet Ministers in the workshops I had run previously and that they were not displeased with my output on the subject at hand?”  (Refer to Republikein March 13, 2007).  So, why would Ulenga not challenge his critics by arguing that he is a veteran politician who was not only nominated but elected with his team by the majority?  The motive behind the opposing group would also be questioned because there are many prominent party members who are prepared to reconcile and march forward for the sake of democracy.  I fully agree with what Dr. Diescho stated in the end of his retaliatory article, that “Namibians possesses a democracy that allows people to have consciences and hearts.  After all, we are Namibian first, then members of political parties.  We can change our affiliations with political parties, but we remain Namibians forever!… None of us, including those who sit on the throne today, is error-free.  In this, we have a responsibility towards each other”.  The writing is on the wall then.

THE report in the Informanté of May 20, 2007 by Tabby Moyo - pertaining to the deliberate and knowing spread of HIV/AIDS is disturbing, and highly regrettable.Surely, that is not because such people lack proper counselling, but are individuals who have intentionally decided to harm others. Like negligent driving, and poisoning of others is liable for prosecution - so should be the negligent spread of HIV/AIDS.Such irresponsible practices will lead to the multiplication of HIV/AIDS rates in the country. 
Thus, taxing our limited resources and denial of proper care of those already infected - should those figures “blow up”. Therefore, playing it like Hon Marlene Mungunda’s response of “lip service”, will cause more damage than good in combating HIV/AIDS. Simply identify, expose and prosecute such individuals  for negligently and  knowingly putting other people’s health at risk - almost, the equivalent of grievous body harm.
And if we’re in doubt, parliament must immediately enact a law to that effect. No one is asking for people’s privacy to be thrown in the public arena, but when someone “chooses” to be a health hazard on a people and community - then, we have a responsibility to stop and expose such a cruel human being.Otherwise, Namibia is not yet serious in the fighting and combating of HIV/AIDS - and making people accountable for their “deadly” actions.
In Canada, such people who knowingly and deliberately spread HIV/AIDS are prosecuted for aggravated assault, and imprisoned. Equally, when such a culprit is reported to the authorities - a countrywide alert is given by exposing the identity of the person to the nation via all media outlets, TV, Radio, and Newspaper - so is a massive police hunt. Indeed, a strong deterrent - fair and square!

Mulife Muchali
14840-105 Ave #212
V3R 1R5
Surrey, BC
Canada