DTA far from finished: Venaani

THE DTA of Namibia’s dismal performance in last week’s Local Authority elections does not signal its end, says the party’s Secretary General, McHenry Venaani.

Venaani told The Namibian in an interview that the party still had a lot to do to harness democracy in Namibia and ultimately take over Government. He asserted that the DTA would take a lead in trying to bring together the country’s fragmented opposition to form a formidable challenge to Swapo’s dominance.”The DTA is down, but not out… come 2004 [general elections in November] there will still be a party called DTA of Namibia.We still aim to take over from Swapo,” the youthful DTA leader said.The party’s mediocre showing in last week’s polls and four regional council by-elections has left critics predicting the beginning of the end for the once mighty alliance, which has served as the official opposition since Independence.The DTA previously controlled nine town councils throughout the country but it has now been left with only one after the last week’s elections.In the regional by-elections, the DTA also lost the Aminuis, Okakarara, Omatako and Tsumkwe seats which it held.Venaani said during the last two years the DTA alliance had endured one of the most trying times in its history, with the breakaway of two “strong” factions – the Republican Party (RP) and the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo).Despite these setbacks, he said, the party had managed to garner more votes than RP and Nudo in the Local Authority elections, and “thus one of the realisations that the DTA is not out”.Venaani said competition in this year’s local elections was higher compared to 1998 because a number of new political parties and associations entered the fray.The DTA lawmaker, who seemed to pin much hope in co-operation between opposition parties to unseat Swapo, said a fragmented opposition only worked in favour of the ruling party.”The opposition parties are not creating a balance [of power] in the country.We are writing a blank cheque for the ruling party, they (Swapo) only put the figures on it,” he said.”Can we allow ourselves, as we are moving into the third republic, to be governed by a two-thirds majority government?” Venaani said it was high time that opposition parties put their differences aside and explored areas of common understanding in the interest of uniting the Namibian people and strengthening democracy.He expressed the hope that Monday’s signing of an agreement by the DTA, CoD and UDF to join forces in running some local authorities would serve as a basis for broader co-operation among opposition parties.The DTA Secretary General dismissed calls for a government of national unity made by some opposition parties.He pointed to the experiences of the Inkatha Freedom Party and the New National Party in South Africa as clear indications that “playing double roles of half-government and half-opposition does not work”.He asserted that the DTA would take a lead in trying to bring together the country’s fragmented opposition to form a formidable challenge to Swapo’s dominance.”The DTA is down, but not out… come 2004 [general elections in November] there will still be a party called DTA of Namibia.We still aim to take over from Swapo,” the youthful DTA leader said.The party’s mediocre showing in last week’s polls and four regional council by-elections has left critics predicting the beginning of the end for the once mighty alliance, which has served as the official opposition since Independence.The DTA previously controlled nine town councils throughout the country but it has now been left with only one after the last week’s elections.In the regional by-elections, the DTA also lost the Aminuis, Okakarara, Omatako and Tsumkwe seats which it held.Venaani said during the last two years the DTA alliance had endured one of the most trying times in its history, with the breakaway of two “strong” factions – the Republican Party (RP) and the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo).Despite these setbacks, he said, the party had managed to garner more votes than RP and Nudo in the Local Authority elections, and “thus one of the realisations that the DTA is not out”.Venaani said competition in this year’s local elections was higher compared to 1998 because a number of new political parties and associations entered the fray.The DTA lawmaker, who seemed to pin much hope in co-operation between opposition parties to unseat Swapo, said a fragmented opposition only worked in favour of the ruling party.”The opposition parties are not creating a balance [of power] in the country.We are writing a blank cheque for the ruling party, they (Swapo) only put the figures on it,” he said.”Can we allow ourselves, as we are moving into the third republic, to be governed by a two-thirds majority government?” Venaani said it was high time that opposition parties put their differences aside and explored areas of common understanding in the interest of uniting the Namibian people and strengthening democracy.He expressed the hope that Monday’s signing of an agreement by the DTA, CoD and UDF to join forces in running some local authorities would serve as a basis for broader co-operation among opposition parties.The DTA Secretary General dismissed calls for a government of national unity made by some opposition parties.He pointed to the experiences of the Inkatha Freedom Party and the New National Party in South Africa as clear indications that “playing double roles of half-government and half-opposition does not work”.