PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar)
As Namibians prepare for the Regional and Local Authority Elections on 26 November 2025, a recent political confrontation in Europe has unexpectedly offered a mirror to our own democratic landscape. It came from a Dutch member of the European Parliament, who boldly challenged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, reminding the world that even in the heart of Western democracy, power can slip quietly beyond the reach of the people.
Her argument was unsettling yet essential: are we really being governed democratically, or merely invited to participate in a carefully choreographed ritual of democracy?
Her words had a striking resonance far beyond Brussels because they exposed the possibility of a new kind of authoritarianism, one that does not rely on tanks or batons but on polished speeches, bureaucratic finesse, and strategic manipulation of language. A “velvet tyranny”.
Language as a weapon: The quiet threat to democracy
One of the most powerful points raised was how dissent is handled today. Instead of physical violence, dissent is neutralised through labels: “extremist”, “misinformed”, “threat to democracy”, and so on.
These labels perform a silent violence. They do not draw blood, but they erase legitimacy.
By controlling language, institutions control perception. And once perception is shaped, the public often accepts the marginalisation of certain voices without questioning the motive.
This is the politics of manufactured reality.
A politics where:
• Censorship is renamed safety
• Suppression is called stability
• Consolidation of power becomes “unity”
• War is described as peace
Orwell’s 1984 warnings are not fiction anymore; they are diagnostics.
Lessons for Namibia: Power, arrogance, and the culture of impunity
As Namibia approaches another election cycle, we must reflect on these dynamics within our own borders.
We recently saw a widely circulated moment in Nigeria where a minister barked at a young cadet, “Do you know who I am?”
But this is not just a Nigerian problem; it is a mentality present across many African governments, including ours, when leaders show a lack of empathy, a lack of emotional intelligence and total disregard for institutions and hierarchy, as they think they are the power unto themselves.
It is the belief that:
• power grants immunity and impunity,
• Hierarchy is a shield
• and accountability is optional and only applies to some, while others can go scot-free even if they insult and destroy people’s reputations and careers just through rumour mills and innuendos.
This is the same spirit captured in Orwell’s Animal Farm:
“Some animals are more equal than others.”
Whenever leaders believe they stand above scrutiny, democracy begins to rot from within.
Why critical thinking matters now more than ever
We live in a post-truth era, where the battle for political power is increasingly fought through words, images, and narratives, not policies, values, or service delivery.
To navigate this environment, citizens must equip themselves with the tools of critical theory to understand how power is distributed, how inequality is sustained, and how political language masks the truth.
We must also equip ourselves with postmodern analysis to recognise that no single narrative is neutral or universal and that official accounts often serve the interests of those who craft them.
Together, these lenses help us resist manipulation. They teach us not to swallow political slogans without chewing, not to accept promises without questioning their feasibility, and not to trust narratives that rely on fear or division to survive.
A call to Namibian voters: Defend the integrity of your democracy
The health of a democracy is not measured by the mere absence of violence, nor simply by the existence of institutions. It is measured by:
• the transparency of power,
• the integrity of political language,
• and the freedom of citizens to question those who govern them.
When language is manipulated, thought is shaped.
When thought is shaped, sovereignty is weakened.
And when sovereignty collapses, freedom becomes the first casualty.
As Namibia heads toward the 2025 elections, the European controversy is not a distant drama; it is a warning.
A reminder that democracy is fragile. That manipulation often wears a suit or even lipstick and speaks politely while claiming to protect you. It is basically what others call a sheep in wolves’ clothing. As such, and indeed, tyranny can come wrapped in velvet. So let us stay awake.
Let us question.
Let us analyse.
And above all, let us refuse to surrender our understanding of truth to those who benefit from distorting it. The African National Congress convened an ordinary meeting of its National Executive Committee from 14 to 16 November 2025 at the Ekurhuleni Civic Centre.
The NEC says it reflected honestly, critically and with revolutionary discipline on the state of the movement, the country and the global balance of forces confronting the National Democratic Revolution and reaffirmed a fundamental truth of the epoch: A united, vibrant and renewal-driven ANC is good for South Africa, good for the African continent, and good for the progressive world, as the movement remains the primary custodian of the democratic transition, the spear and shield of the people, and the strategic centre of transformation. In this regard, the ANC’s NEC, equivalent to the ruling party’s Political Bureau here, said it will give a detailed report to its General Council, or what others will call here the Central Committee, about the balance of forces and will discuss strategies and tactics, including weaknesses in leadership, but says the issue of replacing its President is out of the question, as those are rumour mills peddled by those who want to undermine the cohesion of the ANC. The organisation says it has shock absorbers to refresh its leadership’s mandate, including through criticism that it could have done better here and there, but its main objective at the next National General Council is all about strategy and tactics, including on coalitions and what they call the government of national unity.
All in all, let our leaders be truly empathetic and understanding of our plight and not their individual injured egos. Let them be truly servants of the people who are the true sovereigns. That said, on 26 November 2025, we are not just casting votes; we are defending the future of our democracy.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of our employers or this newspaper but solely our personal views as citizens and Pan-Africanists.
