By Mulengera Reporters
In what some have likened to the 1999 critical missive which preceded Kizza Besigye’s acrimonious departure from YK Museveni’s NRM Party, government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has published a stinging document. Titled “Lack of Harmonization is hurting NRM, Govt,” the outspoken Opondo (renowned for fearlessly speaking his mind) makes an illustration as to why he thinks the NRM isn’t on the right revolutionary path anymore. The man from Mulanda says fortune-hunters and careerists, motivated by monetization and desire to make quick buck, have taken center stage relegating sober-minded party ideologues to the periphery. He says fear to be politically misunderstood and punished for speaking their mind, has pushed many NRM leaders to resorted to keeping quiet in caucus, NEC, National Conference and CEC meetings in favor of leaking damaging information to the media after such meetings. Opondo calls this gossiping as opposed to contributing during formal meetings. He says all this has resulted from absence of well-defined methods of cadre recruitment and ideological training. Quoting Chinese leader Mao Ze Dong, Opondo says ignoring ideological training in favor of monetization of politics is a danger to the future of the NRM party. He also says the liberal approach the party has lately been taking towards those acting improperly has led to growing decadence (his exact word) in the NRM party. He says lack of ideological nourishment has caused some leaders to begin presenting everything in NRM as a crisis and to also “indulge in irresponsible criticism.” He says his party has degenerated to a level where leaders keep quiet in meetings because they consider giving one’s honest opinion to be unsafe. He says many leaders have become lukewarm towards the ruling party even when they continue professing it’s membership. He likens the NRM Chairman (M7) to a Catholic priest whose personality and conduct Christians routinely come to celebrate as opposed to questioning during Holy Mass. Opondo says rather than being platforms for serious ideological nourishment and policy debates, NRM caucus, NEC & CEC meetings are now “more like celebrations of Holly Mass where no serious questions are put to the priest.” He says the top party leadership these days despises open methods of work, something that has bred opportunism as opposed to ideological growth of the party. He implies many party elected leaders can’t give their counsel anymore fearing to be fought by the party Chairman at subsequent elections. He says because of political fatigue, party leaders can’t even go to Universities to speak to students and recruit them unless if they are given huge sums of money as facilitation. He says “halfway their presentation, the hall will be empty when the audience realize there is no tea or allowances to give out.” This is exactly similar to the point another Musevenist Andrew Mwenda made three weeks ago. Opondo says whereas opposition supporters (like those of People Power) are committed and are self-driven, NRM leaders can’t undertake any mobilization activity until Museveni first releases some money. “It’s now common practice for NRM leaders to show indifference towards issues that concern the masses,” partly reads Opondo’s controversial missive published in today’s Sunday Vision. He almost repeats what Mbabazi said in 2015 when he criticized Museveni for priding himself in leading a party where ambition is criminalized. This is how Opondo puts his point: “NRM today has weak and little weak sheep that appear discouraged from thinking outside the official box. The vigilant (call them ambitious) are perceived as a threat to institutional model. Leaders with zeal are frowned upon and confused with zealots. It seems to be forgotten that Jesus didn’t end up on the Cross because He made people happy. A Jesus without the Cross is a false Jesus. Similarly cadres without leadership skills are false, flaccid, ineffectual, more like the sad phenomenon of sheep without a shepherd.” He says going foward, NRM should recruit new younger members and pride itself in having assertive leaders in it’s ranks as opposed to docile ones. He admits NRM faces serious leadership and cadreship deficit because over the years, people have been made to fear to boldly raise the issues he points out in his Sunday missive. He says unless leaders consider his critical views seriously and in good faith, the party risks becoming “a country club merely with a flag on top” as opposed to being “a vanguard party.” He says reforms are needed in the party and these will only come in “a bottom-up approach” but NRM currently lacks that lower bottom cadreship to courageously push for the much needed reforms in the party. He concludes by saying: “When NRM leaders fail in their responsibilities after issues are brought to their attention, the members would be right to vote with their feet. This is not a call to rebellion but summon for members to take strong-hard look at the NRM & reinforce cadreship.”
PONDERS RESIGNATION;
During the Saturday Capital Gang edition, Opondo (while discussing Jennifer Musisi’ exit from KCCA) hinted on his own resignation. He said should he announce his resignation too or ask the President not to renew his contract upon expiry, people shouldn’t be surprised. “I’m ripe for the same by the way. Having served in this spokesperson position for now 19 years since 1999, I should also be considering quitting and creating room for the younger ones like Lydia Wanyoto here. They also need to serve but sometimes we become hostages when we think of the possibility of being misunderstood especially for those of us in political jobs,” Opondo said during Oscar Semweya Musoke’s Capital Gang program on Saturday. Opondo agreed with other panelists that time had come for occupants of public offices like Musisi’s to be recruited through competitive processes to enhance efficiency and accountability. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
