Religous impressions on our political landscape

Every so often emerges a political force that captures the imagination of humanity and transforms the outlook on reality as it had been perceived. The adoption of Hiltler’s Germany of fascism transformed the political landscape in Europe in the 1930s and led to untold harm to the conscience of the German nation. The 1960s were characterised by the civil rights movement in the United States which is best imprinted in our memory through the glorious speech made by the young Reverend Martin Luther King at the Lincoln Memorial.

The passionate struggle for liberation in South Africa had gained prominence and revolutionary traction in the 1960s; black people had become increasingly conscious of the urgency of their liberation. The response by the fascist National Party regime against those clamouring for freedom was violent and brutal. At the root of the fascist ideology of the National Party was the Calvinist and Presbyterian beliefs whose doctrines were abused to assert that Afrikaners were the chosen ones; that is was God’s will that the preposterous notion of white supremacy should be preserved.

The church and the state had become one under apartheid. The Dutch Reformed Church (Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk) was the vehicle through which champions of apartheid had abused to brainwash the Afrikaner society. The architect of apartheid — Hendrik Verwoerd — who had acquired of doctorate in psychology knew very well that intertwining shared religious conviction with a sinister political agenda was to yield desired results. The Dutch Reformed Church found theological justification for apartheid and the Afrikaner community believed that it was God-ordained.

It is for these reasons that the proponents of separation of religion from politics become ever more vociferous on any suspicion of the injection religious beliefs into the realm of politics. Politics in their nature have considerable and lasting impact on lives of people. For scores of years politics have been defined by endless stream of improprieties and dominated by men of questionable integrity and despicable character. Ethical convictions are generally, yet not entirely, rooted in religious faith and common sense would suggest that religion should be accorded legitimate influence on politics. Religious beliefs have moral implications; and those we have entrusted with the arduous task of serving our people require in greater measure some moral and ethical conviction. The introduction of compassion, respect and accountability into the interstices of the political order is of greater importance in our current stations of life.

The emergence of former bishop Mvume Dandala as the presidential candidate for the Congress of the People (Cope) has reawakened age-old suspicions and mutterings about the role of religious figures in politics; and further imbued the rest of us with unparalleled enthusiasm. There are those who have expressed a concern about the alienation of others of different religious beliefs from the former bishop; mischievously or naively insinuating that the Cope has miraculously transformed into some fanatical Christian organisation. It is vital to be reminded that faith in many instances has been the fuel that has fed the passionate flame in the struggle for freedom, often offending traditional and sacred values in order to usher revolutionary social change.

Challenges confronting our rising nation demand honest leaders who would undertake arduous duties of government with greater caution and care in order to alleviate our people of agonising spasms of poverty. It is foolhardy to entrust those who lack sensibilities to the plight of the poor; those with history of improprieties, with the levers of power and overwhelm them with the magnitude of legitimate expectations ordinarily imposed on public servants. To do so would be asking of these questionable men to exert themselves in perpetuating dehumanising conditions under which our people exist.

For our nation to succeed and emerge victorious in the combat against poverty we must elect those whose commitment to serving our people is unquestionable; those men and women who would assume that burden of responsibility in full confidence that we the people will hold them accountable. Under the leadership of Dandala, Cope in government would fulfill the hopes and dreams who have for far too long been held hostage to the sentiment of the liberation; blackmailed through distribution of social grants and unattainable promises. Dandala appreciates the difficulties of the road ahead and would find full support in a consciousness of the purposes and a confidence in the principles which Cope brings with into this arduous service to our people.

The seriousness with which Cope confronts these duties to be allotted to their charge by the people would be reflected by the commitment of the president of Cope to dedicate his purpose to directly interacting with our people and ensuring that those in government meet their expectations. There are those who wish to sow the seed of confusion and mistrust among our people by embarking on a misinformation campaign about the leadership of Cope; creating a false impression of a tussle among those in the leadership; all in a desperate attempt to prevent those who continuously have to contend with throes and convulsions of poverty from choosing the government they deserve; a government that would serve them first and be accountable to them first. Only a leadership carrying the weight of ethical and moral conviction would be conscious to the immediate plight of our people.

Empty promises are not enough to sustain the patience of those whose hopes have long been insulted with corrupt practices. The current global financial crisis imposes an obligation of governments around the world to implement policies that are favourable to long-term stability and sustainable growth of the economy; and it is suicidal at present to usher into government those whose policies are inspired by political expediency and populism. The transition from prosperous conditions of our country to the scene which has for some time been distressing us, is chargeable on failed commitment by those who have been in government to pursue prudence in application of their policies. The continuous support of people who seem to possess a natural disposition for corrupt practices has visited more misery on our people who have long been clamouring for change and improvement to their conditions.