POLITICAL parties formed on tribal lines and led by traditional leaders should be rejected, the Congress of Democrats (CoD) party said this week.
Recent party formations like the Nama Democratic Party, the All People’s Party (APP) established by two brothers in the Kavango Region and the ‘Oukwanyama-based party Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) under Hidipo Hamutenya’ created a false sense of belonging and security, said CoD spokesperson Natji Tjirera.
Tjirera also criticised older parties like the UDF led by Damara Chief Justus Garoëb and Nudo led by Herero Chief Kuaima Riruako.
‘It is so clear that if you are either Damara or Herero speaking and you don’t belong to either of these two parties, then you are less Damara and less Herero,’ Tjirero told reporters.
He laid the blame on the ruling Swapo Party, which he called the ‘mother of all tribalism’.
‘As much as we acknowledge that these parties are a direct result of the tribalism of the present-day Government, we believe we (CoD) should not allow ourselves to become accomplices in the destruction of our country with tribal politics,’ Tjirera added.
Tribal parties reminded him of the apartheid days, when Bantustans were established by the South African regime.
‘We must just remind ourselves of the genocide in Rwanda, when the Tutsi and Hutu tribes fought each other, as a recent example of tribal hegemonies camouflaged as political parties,’ Tjuirera warned.
The CoD is following the principle of unity in diversity, he said.
‘Look at Swapo where tribalism is. They used the Oukwanyamas as voting cattle for several years and made a Kwanyama president. But young Swapo members today attack older members of the age of grandfathers. This would not have been possible a few years ago, they would have been disciplined,’ Tjirera lashed out.
Asked if CoD would win more seats in Parliament in this year’s national elections, the CoD spokesperson said: ‘Swapo is dreaming of winning all 72 seats in Parliament, but they would be lucky if they get 40 seats.’
Requested to respond to rumours that the CoD would become part of a coalition of all opposition parties in the next elections, the CoD spokesperson denied that.
‘We have not spoken to anyone on this topic, but CoD would not refuse (such an offer) if a coalition of opposition parties can stop Namibia from going in the wrong direction,’ Tjirera said.
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