‘I am still a member of the Swapo Central Committee and Politburo’

HIDIPO Hamutenya, told an Africa Day rally at Walvis Bay yesterday that: “I am still a member of the Swapo Central Committee and Politburo.

They nominated me as a presidential candidate and that remains,” Hamutenya told the media at the home of Nande Muatunga, brother of the Mayor of Walvis Bay, after the event. When asked what the reason was for the President’s decision to fire him, Hamutenya said : “That is a question that must be put to the President, I don’t know.”He said his reaction to the announcement was that Ministers served at the pleasure of the President.”It is his prerogative to arrange government as he sees fit.He is free to pick, appoint and relieve those he wants to.”Hamutenya added that it had been a pleasure to serve in the Cabinet for 14 years.”I accept the President’s choice to relieve me of the responsibility he gave me.”He added, though, that it was not the President’s prerogative to appoint people to the Swapo Central Committee …and therefore he would stand as candidate because he was nominated by members of the committee.As for his loyalty to Swapo should he not be elected as the candidate this weekend, Hamutenya said he would always stay a Swapo member.”I want to die a member of Swapo.”In his speech at the Kuisebmond stadium, Hamutenya first focused on the history of Africa Day, why it was important to celebrate it, and what it meant to be at Walvis Bay for the day, before he moved on to the importance of democracy for Namibia.His first reference to the announcement of the previous night came when he thanked the people of Walvis Bay for their “courage, who, in spite of recent developments, dared to come out and attend the day’s events”, which was met with some applause.As he addressed the issue of democracy and the importance of its deepening and broadening for African liberation, he said this year was very important for the strengthening of democracy in Namibia.Referring to the chain of elections that started off with the recent Local Authority elections, the presidential candidate said: “In three days time, we hope to see another stage or episode in the development, consolidation and perfection of our democracy.”But an otherwise confident Hamutenya expressed some doubt when he added that Swapo had called an extraordinary congress, “which we hope will take place”, to select a presidential candidate.He said this candidate, as the party representative, would have to step into the very big shoes of Nujoma to lead the nation and take the country to new heights.Before addressing what he saw as the most important issues to be tackled by the new government from November onwards, Hamutenya urged people to make use of their right to vote.”We should regard ourselves as duty-bound to take part in elections.There are many people in the world crying for the opportunity to vote.We fought many years demanding this very right.Therefore people must come out and vote.”He added that change was something human beings did not live with easily.”We are always more comfortable with what we know and are afraid to go into the uncharted waters of change.Change is the only certain thing.We should not be afraid of it, instead we should be able to confront it to be able to change.”He said a government should not get stuck in old modes of doing things and with everyone in the same place.”The process of election should be seen in the context of change.”Hamutenya ended his off-the-cuff speech saying: “Elected people can only be effective if they enjoy the support of those they lead.”When asked what the reason was for the President’s decision to fire him, Hamutenya said : “That is a question that must be put to the President, I don’t know.”He said his reaction to the announcement was that Ministers served at the pleasure of the President.”It is his prerogative to arrange government as he sees fit.He is free to pick, appoint and relieve those he wants to.”Hamutenya added that it had been a pleasure to serve in the Cabinet for 14 years.”I accept the President’s choice to relieve me of the responsibility he gave me.”He added, though, that it was not the President’s prerogative to appoint people to the Swapo Central Committee …and therefore he would stand as candidate because he was nominated by members of the committee.As for his loyalty to Swapo should he not be elected as the candidate this weekend, Hamutenya said he would always stay a Swapo member.”I want to die a member of Swapo.”In his speech at the Kuisebmond stadium, Hamutenya first focused on the history of Africa Day, why it was important to celebrate it, and what it meant to be at Walvis Bay for the day, before he moved on to the importance of democracy for Namibia.His first reference to the announcement of the previous night came when he thanked the people of Walvis Bay for their “courage, who, in spite of recent developments, dared to come out and attend the day’s events”, which was met with some applause.As he addressed the issue of democracy and the importance of its deepening and broadening for African liberation, he said this year was very important for the strengthening of democracy in Namibia.Referring to the chain of elections that started off with the recent Local Authority elections, the presidential candidate said: “In three days time, we hope to see another stage or episode in the development, consolidation and perfection of our democracy.”But an otherwise confident Hamutenya expressed some doubt when he added that Swapo had called an extraordinary congress, “which we hope will take place”, to select a presidential candidate.He said this candidate, as the party representative, would have to step into the very big shoes of Nujoma to lead the nation and take the country to new heights.Before addressing what he saw as the most important issues to be tackled by the new government from November onwards, Hamutenya urged people to make use of their right to vote.”We should regard ourselves as duty-bound to take part in elections.There are many people in the world crying for the opportunity to vote.We fought many years demanding this very right.Therefore people must come out and vote.”He added that change was something human beings did not live with easily.”We are always more comfortable with what we know and are afraid to go into the uncharted waters of change.Change is the only certain thing.We should not be afraid of it, instead we should be able to confront it to be able to change.”He said a government should not get stuck in old modes of doing things and with everyone in the same place.”The process of election should be seen in the context of change.”Hamutenya ended his off-the-cuff speech saying: “Elected people can only be effective if they enjoy the support of those they lead.”