THE youth wing of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) has called on the Head of State to sack a Cabinet minister who allegedly fired shots in the direction of his nephew.
Mines and Energy Minister Erkki Nghimtina allegedly fired “shots in the air” a week ago out of anger on hearing that his 19-year-old nephew had joined the RDP, claiming he had raised the youth “on Swapo money”. Frans Hifikepunye Nghihepa has denied joining the RDP, saying he was merely found with a friend making photocopies in an RDP office.”We of the RDP youth wing demand that President Hifikepunye Pohamba fire Minister Nghimtina after this barbaric and almost deadly event at Edundja village in order to send out the right message to the nation that such unconstitutional and undemocratic behaviour will not be tolerated (by Government),” the party’s youth leader, Nicanor Ndjoze, said at a press conference in Windhoek yesterday.”Our members, especially the young ones, experience continuous intimidation, assaults and harassment by Swapo members, most recently in Katutura, where a young woman who wore an RDP T-shirt was attacked, she had to be hospitalised.”Ndjoze said if intimidation and assaults reared their ugly head 14 months before the next national elections and continued in this fashion, “we shudder to think what will all take place during the 2009 election campaign”.According to Ndjoze, several African countries recently erupted into spontaneous or orchestrated violence.”Kenya and Zimbabwe are fresh in our minds.Under no circumstances must we allow Namibia to fall prey to violence with brother against brother,” he cautioned.”RDP and its youth wing are committed to a united society where all citizens have the right to participate in peaceful political activity.”He appealed to Pohamba to “rein in Government and Swapo officials and to take decisive action against those who commit or incite acts of violence”.According to several sources, President Hifikepunye Pohamba rebuked Nghimtina on Monday and asked for his resignation.However, heavy lobbying from several Swapo leaders made Pohamba back-pedal.After the Police interrogated Nghimtina, the Minister is said to have felt “betrayed by Swapo” and angrily returned his two official cars to Government and tendered his resignation.Following a lot of to-ing and fro-ing Swapo leaders are said to have convinced Nghimtina to retract his resignation.The two Government vehicles are back at his Pionierspark house.Frans Hifikepunye Nghihepa has denied joining the RDP, saying he was merely found with a friend making photocopies in an RDP office.”We of the RDP youth wing demand that President Hifikepunye Pohamba fire Minister Nghimtina after this barbaric and almost deadly event at Edundja village in order to send out the right message to the nation that such unconstitutional and undemocratic behaviour will not be tolerated (by Government),” the party’s youth leader, Nicanor Ndjoze, said at a press conference in Windhoek yesterday.”Our members, especially the young ones, experience continuous intimidation, assaults and harassment by Swapo members, most recently in Katutura, where a young woman who wore an RDP T-shirt was attacked, she had to be hospitalised.”Ndjoze said if intimidation and assaults reared their ugly head 14 months before the next national elections and continued in this fashion, “we shudder to think what will all take place during the 2009 election campaign”.According to Ndjoze, several African countries recently erupted into spontaneous or orchestrated violence.”Kenya and Zimbabwe are fresh in our minds.Under no circumstances must we allow Namibia to fall prey to violence with brother against brother,” he cautioned.”RDP and its youth wing are committed to a united society where all citizens have the right to participate in peaceful political activity.”He appealed to Pohamba to “rein in Government and Swapo officials and to take decisive action against those who commit or incite acts of violence”.According to several sources, President Hifikepunye Pohamba rebuked Nghimtina on Monday and asked for his resignation.However, heavy lobbying from several Swapo leaders made Pohamba back-pedal.After the Police interrogated Nghimtina, the Minister is said to have felt “betrayed by Swapo” and angrily returned his two official cars to Government and tendered his resignation.Following a lot of to-ing and fro-ing Swapo leaders are said to have convinced Nghimtina to retract his resignation.The two Government vehicles are back at his Pionierspark house.
