The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has questioned the government’s silence on the current situation in Uganda.
IPC shadow minister of international relations and trade Rodney Cloete revealed this in a statement on Friday.
“Where is Namibia’s voice? Now, for once, Namibia must speak up, particularly when the same rights we fought for are reported to be trampled upon.
“How much longer will Namibia turn a blind eye when we are so quick to condemn those we don’t regard as friends who are guilty of the same?” Cloete asked.
He said Namibia has moral authority on the African continent.
“We earned it. The
question is whether we’re willing to use it or keep it locked away until it’s worthless,” he said.
Cloete wants the Ministry of International Relations and Trade to take a clear position on the situation.
“The parliament should debate why our
foreign policy has one standard for remote conflicts and a very
different one for our own neighbourhood,” Cloete said.
Uganda held presidential elections this week with its current president, Yoweri Museveni, in the lead.
Early results show he has garnered 76% of the votes, followed by opposition leader Bobi Wine, with about 20%, according to reports.
“We are informed that the military didn’t protect the election, they protected the outcome,” Cloete said.
He said the internet was shut down, with Wine reportedly locked up in his own home.
At least 10 civil society organisations have been suspended for monitoring the events, he said.
Cloete said despite the United Nations expressing deep concern,
he believes this changes nothing.
He said an African solution cannot mean African silence.
“We didn’t fight for
independence so our government could watch other Africans get
robbed of theirs,” he said.
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