Helao Nafidi sells ad space to Swapo

The Helao Nafidi Town Council has come under fire for refusing to allow opposition political parties to hang their campaign posters on public lamp poles.

The town council credited its refusal to the ruling party paying for advertising space on the lamp poles in the town.

On Monday, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani did not take the refusal lightly, saying it is an insult to the electoral rights of all parties when opposition political organisations are prohibited from displaying posters.

“It is important to recognise that public resources, including poles and posts, belong to the community and should be accessible to all political parties, regardless of their affiliation,” he said.

The PDM also said they were rejected by the Eenhana, Oniipa, and Omuthiya town councils, adding that the town is acting on instructions by the ruling party to limit support and promotion for opposition parties.

Venaani said it undermines the fundamental democratic principles of free and fair campaigning.

“These councils’ arbitrary edicts, especially the astronomical fees imposed for displaying election materials, reveal a concerning pattern of partiality and bias that strengthens the networks of patronage Swapo established,” said Venaani.

Venaani noted that the system allowed only Swapo’s materials to dominate the electoral landscape.

“The PDM will not permit Swapo to monopolise the political landscape and will display its electoral materials as permitted under a free democratic system,” he said.

Helao Nafidi mayor Darius Shaalukeni said advertising space on all poles was paid for by Swapo on 10 September.

“We are operating the town council on a business model. If you have something with a budgetary tariff, who says that I can only pay for drinks or a limited number of toilets for my ceremony? How can you dare to impose such restrictions?” he said.

Shaalukeni said the town is not doing anyone any favours. “Let’s face it, regardless of which party you’re from, this is about business. We are here to make money, plain and simple,” said Shaalukeni.

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