CoD unveils its poll promises

THE diversification of Namibia’s economy with the aim of creating employment, especially the youth, is the main priority of the Congress of Democrats, says its president, Ben Ulenga.

The ruling Swapo Party does not want an economic transformation, because it sells the country’s raw minerals to China instead of processing it locally, Ulenga charged.Launching the party’s manifesto at Mariental on Saturday, Ulenga promised CoD will change the government after the November elections, adding that there were 101 reasons that necessitated a change in Government. ‘We do not need wars to change the government. We’ll contest to win the elections, and not only with a few seats. I, Ben Ulenga, will take over from (President Hifikepunye) Pohamba and CoD from the Tanganyika group,’ boasted Ulenga.He referred to the Tanganyika group – people who attended the Swapo Party’s first congress in Tanganyika (Tanzania) many years ago – as a bundle of ‘old men and women’.Ulenga claimed that the Swapo-led Government had ‘sidelined the youth’. This, he attributed to self-enrichment schemes involving top Government leaders who are members of the ruling party.’Swapo leaders in the Parliament are involved in Avid (investment scam),’ he remarked. ‘It is 20 years of pursuing self-enrichment at the expense of development; it is 20 years of cheating, of taking people for granted. In the fullest sense of the word, we are talking of 20 years of failing the nation and the people,’ Ulenga maintained. Tax money that was supposed to be invested in the empowerment of the youth ‘go to the old men to enrich themselves, go to their farms and go to palaces and State House,’ said Ulenga. Ulenga further denounced those who want to take up arms and hammers to beat ‘whites’.’This is not an election where people should be called names,’ Ulenga added. The opposition party president further pledged that CoD would lead in building infrastructure and promote food production in all regions, especially in regions suitable for agriculture and crop production. ‘It’s a shame that Swapo Party Government ignores some parts of the country,’ he noted. Claiming that the Swapo Party Government allows expropriation of houses over ‘bad debts’, Ulenga demanded that a recent judgement stating that the Magistrates’ Courts Act (Act 12 of 1944) provides for the seizure of houses for bad debts be struck from the roll.’We deplore the judgement. To have a roof over one’s head is a right, not a privilege. If it’s not a right it should be made a right immediately,’ said Ulenga. Ulenga said the CoD chose Mariental as the venue to launch its manifesto because ‘we share the pains of unemployment’ of the people of the South. The party had been expected to announce its list of 72 candidates for the National Assembly on Saturday, but Ulenga told reporters that it still had to be endorsed by the full National Executive Committee.’We’ll make the list available in due course,’ he said.