Federal state would be fair for all, says Nudo

THE National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) has vowed to put its weight behind recent calls for Namibia to become a federal state, ensuring all ethnic groups a fair share in running the country.

Opening the party’s first congress since it pulled of the DTA alliance about four months ago, Nudo President Kuaima Riruako reiterated that most of Namibia’s peoples were forced into the current unitary state by the international community, including the United Nations. The Nudo congress was held at the home of former Herero leader Chief Hosea Kutako, in the small settlement of Toasis, about 30 kilometres from Aminuis.Riruako, who is also the Paramount Chief of the Herero, lashed out at the Swapo government’s alleged marginalisation of minority groups while, he said, the resources of the country benefited only the ruling party elite.”All jobs and every opportunity for survival, their [the minority’s] ancestral land is given to the one tribe only… this situation prevails in most parts of the country and will not change under the present Namibian unitary state,” Riruako said.Last year Government lambasted similar calls for federalism as seditious and an incitement to civil strife.But, at Toasis, Riruako was adamant that Namibia was heading for a social and political catastrophe under the current system of majority rule.”Many will ask: ‘Why civil strife?’ My answer is also in a form of a question … ‘For how long shall we allow ourselves to be discriminated against on grounds of tribe and political affiliation in our own country?”The Nudo leader spoke at length about how most tribes, particularly minority ones, were denied a chance to have a say on how they were governed.He instanced the recently established lands boards which, according to him, have been forced on the people “with the purpose of parcelling out our land to the new landless rulers”.Riruako also decried the plight of Ramatex textile factory workers who, he said, were paid “slave wages” while both Government and trade unions maintained their silence.He also cautioned white Namibians to avoid being caught up in a situation similar to their counterparts in Zimbabwe, whom he said had ignored evident warning signs of the impending crisis.”Wake up, a storm is brewing on the horizon, a Zimbabwean situation is looming, do not rest on today’s feast,” Riruako added, without elaborating on his warning.Nudo, affiliated with the DTA since 1978, pulled out of the alliance towards the end of last year and registered with the Directorate of Elections as an independent political party.The Nudo congress was held at the home of former Herero leader Chief Hosea Kutako, in the small settlement of Toasis, about 30 kilometres from Aminuis. Riruako, who is also the Paramount Chief of the Herero, lashed out at the Swapo government’s alleged marginalisation of minority groups while, he said, the resources of the country benefited only the ruling party elite. “All jobs and every opportunity for survival, their [the minority’s] ancestral land is given to the one tribe only… this situation prevails in most parts of the country and will not change under the present Namibian unitary state,” Riruako said. Last year Government lambasted similar calls for federalism as seditious and an incitement to civil strife. But, at Toasis, Riruako was adamant that Namibia was heading for a social and political catastrophe under the current system of majority rule. “Many will ask: ‘Why civil strife?’ My answer is also in a form of a question … ‘For how long shall we allow ourselves to be discriminated against on grounds of tribe and political affiliation in our own country?” The Nudo leader spoke at length about how most tribes, particularly minority ones, were denied a chance to have a say on how they were governed. He instanced the recently established lands boards which, according to him, have been forced on the people “with the purpose of parcelling out our land to the new landless rulers”. Riruako also decried the plight of Ramatex textile factory workers who, he said, were paid “slave wages” while both Government and trade unions maintained their silence. He also cautioned white Namibians to avoid being caught up in a situation similar to their counterparts in Zimbabwe, whom he said had ignored evident warning signs of the impending crisis. “Wake up, a storm is brewing on the horizon, a Zimbabwean situation is looming, do not rest on today’s feast,” Riruako added, without elaborating on his warning. Nudo, affiliated with the DTA since 1978, pulled out of the alliance towards the end of last year and registered with the Directorate of Elections as an independent political party.