Last week a Swapo delegation, led by Oshikoto Governor Penda ya Ndakolo, visited the Onashikuvu Primary School near Omuthiya, allegedly to instigate a community uprising against the school's principal, Ndapewa Nghipandulwa.

Nghipandulwa, former president of the Namibia National Teachers' Union (Nantu), is a member of the RDP and was accused of having spread rumours that extensions being done at the school was the work of her party.

"Let us be realistic and call a spade a spade," Nghipandulwa said.

"How can one, as ya Ndakolo allege, say that the RDP is constructing the school when it is not the case? He and his team are just busy with political tactics.

They want to get rid of me from the school," she said.

Nghipandulwa said she was a professional civil servant who did not mix politics with her work.

"I leave my personal things at home, including political issues," she said.

While she was Nantu president, Nghipandulwa met friends from Norway and Canada who have since helped her with money to construct some corrugated-iron classrooms with the help of the community.

Some of the money was used to buy a photocopier for the school.

Nghipandulwa said the Chinese Ambassador came to the school recently and informed them that his Government would donate N$8 million to Namibia for the construction of more classrooms and two teachers' houses.

Ya Ndakolo said he went to the school to tell the principal, pupils, parents and other community members that the money for the construction of the classrooms did not come from the RDP or other opposition political party leaders, as some leaders of the RDP were allegedly claiming.

"I just went there to clear the air, because those leaders of the opposition parties, especially the RDP, are spreading lies and rumours among the people and are misleading the people for nothing," ya Ndakolo said.

He said he did not mention Nghipandulwa's name but said "some leaders of opposition parties, namely the RDP".

However, during the Omuthiya Swapo Party rally, which The Namibian attended, ya Ndakolo specifically mentioned Nghipandulwa as one of those who had alleged that the construction at the school was done with RDP money.

The rally was also addressed by the Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, Jerry Ekandjo, who is also Swapo's secretary for information and publicity.

A Chinese company, Ziangsu Zhengtai, started constructing a 14-classroom building at the school in June this year.

Ya Ndakolo claimed that it was only his party that had a good relationship with the Chinese government since the time of the liberation struggle and could claim ownership of the school building.

"Chinese don't consider opposition parties, they are doing it because of Swapo.

They don't know you," he said.

Nghipandulwa has called for an investigation into the allegations.

She also challenged ya Ndakolo come forward with "concrete evidence".

The ruling party's leaders told supporters at the Omuthiya rally to "get rid" of all members of the opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) in high-ranking positions.

Ekandjo particularly singled out the RDP co-ordinator in the Oshikoto Region, Ismael Shailemo, who is also the head of the Mangetti Farmers' Association, and the RDP candidate for the Omuthiya local authority election, Magnus Nangombe, who heads the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta).

He called on Swapo members to call a congress and "kick out" both of them because they were RDP members.

The name of Nghipandulwa was also mentioned at that rally and ya Ndakolo subsequently promised Ekandjo that he would visit the school.

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