CoD blasts Swapo for opposing coalitions in Local Authorities

THE Congress of Democrats has strongly deplored what it termed Swapo’s undemocratic attitude towards co-operation amongst opposition parties, as well as President Sam Nujoma’s “threatening and insulting language” against political opponents.

The CoD said threats by the ruling party not to co-operate with the opposition in various towns and villages where hung councils had been declared lay lead to denying residents of those places essential and necessary services. “If the residents in the various towns happen to be negatively affected by this unco-operative Swapo Party attitude, obviously only Swapo Party should take the blame,” said CoD President Ben Ulenga.After the Local Authority elections a fortnight ago, the CoD, DTA and United Democratic Front (UDF) forged a coalition to take over the running of towns such as Karibib, Usakos, Uis, Gochas, Gibeon, Kamanjab, Khorixas, Opuwo and Outjo.The moved irked Swapo, with its Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange accusing the opposition of “ganging together in an unholy alliance” to frustrate Swapo’s majority.But Ulenga reminded Tjiriange that the ruling party did not poll absolute majority votes in those towns, leaving room for any number of parties to come together and co-operate to form a coalition local government.”There is no way the opposition parties can legally rob Swapo Party of its majority, if the ruling party had won that …Swapo has to learn to be humble and accept defeat where they had not won,” the CoD declared.Turning to Nujoma’s attack on political opponents, Ulenga said the head of state’s “immoderate and insulting” utterances at an Africa Day rally at Oshakati on Tuesday were “very unfortunate and deplorable”.Apart from threatening to “shoot” common criminals and people allegedly collaborating with whites, Nujoma reportedly accused Ulenga of allegedly being gay and described CoD councillors at Oshakati as homosexuals.”If the residents in the various towns happen to be negatively affected by this unco-operative Swapo Party attitude, obviously only Swapo Party should take the blame,” said CoD President Ben Ulenga.After the Local Authority elections a fortnight ago, the CoD, DTA and United Democratic Front (UDF) forged a coalition to take over the running of towns such as Karibib, Usakos, Uis, Gochas, Gibeon, Kamanjab, Khorixas, Opuwo and Outjo.The moved irked Swapo, with its Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange accusing the opposition of “ganging together in an unholy alliance” to frustrate Swapo’s majority.But Ulenga reminded Tjiriange that the ruling party did not poll absolute majority votes in those towns, leaving room for any number of parties to come together and co-operate to form a coalition local government.”There is no way the opposition parties can legally rob Swapo Party of its majority, if the ruling party had won that …Swapo has to learn to be humble and accept defeat where they had not won,” the CoD declared.Turning to Nujoma’s attack on political opponents, Ulenga said the head of state’s “immoderate and insulting” utterances at an Africa Day rally at Oshakati on Tuesday were “very unfortunate and deplorable”.Apart from threatening to “shoot” common criminals and people allegedly collaborating with whites, Nujoma reportedly accused Ulenga of allegedly being gay and described CoD councillors at Oshakati as homosexuals.