‘Cockroach’ remark incites genocide: RDP

THE Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) has called on Government to declare the African National Congress Youth League leader for Gauteng Province, Jacob Kawe, a “prohibited immigrant with immediate effect”.

Kawe’s remarks at a Swapo rally at Okahandja Park, Katutura, on Sunday afternoon “were inciting genocide, violence, chaos and anarchy in this country”, the party said yesterday. Referring to opposition parties, Kawe, who visited Windhoek with an ANC Youth League delegation, said: “Destroy those political cockroaches, they are in your kitchen.We fear no one, not even our leaders, we tell everyone opposing us to go to hell!” In a statement, the RDP said such utterances, especially directed to impressionable children and youth, could lead to Namibians killing one another.”For a foreigner to come and instigate our people to commit criminal acts is unacceptable and should not be tolerated.We should not allow anyone, least of all a foreign national, to abuse our hospitality by polluting the minds of our children,” the RDP stated.The opposition party noted that it should not be forgotten that in 1994 similar words uttered by Hutu extremists in Rwanda led to the killing of nearly a million Tutsis in one of the worst genocides in Africa’s modern history.”Do we want to go a similar route?” the party asked.”Namibia is a peaceful country with peace-loving people.Let us not allow ourselves to be derailed by misguided foreign elements such as Kawe,” the party cautioned.Government should not be seen condoning such behaviour, especially by foreign nationals.It should also not be seen to be applying double standards, according to the RDP.”Government declared South African right-wing leader Eugene Terreblanche a prohibited immigrant for similar incitement.It should do the same with Jacob Kawe.”Referring to opposition parties, Kawe, who visited Windhoek with an ANC Youth League delegation, said: “Destroy those political cockroaches, they are in your kitchen.We fear no one, not even our leaders, we tell everyone opposing us to go to hell!” In a statement, the RDP said such utterances, especially directed to impressionable children and youth, could lead to Namibians killing one another.”For a foreigner to come and instigate our people to commit criminal acts is unacceptable and should not be tolerated.We should not allow anyone, least of all a foreign national, to abuse our hospitality by polluting the minds of our children,” the RDP stated. The opposition party noted that it should not be forgotten that in 1994 similar words uttered by Hutu extremists in Rwanda led to the killing of nearly a million Tutsis in one of the worst genocides in Africa’s modern history.”Do we want to go a similar route?” the party asked.”Namibia is a peaceful country with peace-loving people.Let us not allow ourselves to be derailed by misguided foreign elements such as Kawe,” the party cautioned.Government should not be seen condoning such behaviour, especially by foreign nationals.It should also not be seen to be applying double standards, according to the RDP.”Government declared South African right-wing leader Eugene Terreblanche a prohibited immigrant for similar incitement.It should do the same with Jacob Kawe.”