‘Let Swapo rule forever’

ALL Namibians should support the ruling Swapo Party so that it can always win elections, as it is the only political organisation that can improve the living standards of all Namibians, its President, Sam Nujoma, says.

“We call upon all the Namibian people to unite and rally behind the Swapo Party so that the Swapo Party will always win the future elections in order to improve the standards of living of all Namibians, irrespective of colour, race or ethnic origin,” Nujoma told the Khomas regional Swapo conference on Saturday. Nujoma cancelled his appearance at the meeting at the last minute and his speech was delivered by Swapo Deputy Secretary General John Pandeni, who also holds the portfolio of Minster of Local and Regional Government, Housing and Rural Development.”This is not how democracy works,” a source close to the Swapo national leadership told The Namibian after the opening.”A vibrant democracy has room for other political parties.One cannot say Swapo will always win.”The meeting of 83 delegates – who had to elect a new regional leadership and delegates for the national party congress scheduled for next November – lasted until early yesterday morning.”It took until 06h00 this morning,” an exhausted delegate told The Namibian yesterday.Other members contacted about the names of the newly elected leaders had their cellphones switched off.Another one curtly told the reporter that it was the weekend.”Do you know that today is Sunday?” the member asked.Ten delegates were selected to represent the Khomas Region at the Swapo congress in November.Three positions at regional level were also contested: Michael Mwinga retained his position as Khomas Regional Co-ordinator and Gerson Kamatuka as his deputy.Rafael Mbala was elected as information and mobilisation co-ordinator.Kamatuka confirmed the elections to The Namibian yesterday.”We will have another meeting again soon to form an electoral college to elect four people who aspire to become members of the future central committee to be elected at the national congress in November,” Kamatuka said.The other 24 members of the 27-strong Khomas executive committee, which includes Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo, Alpheus Muhehua and Bro-Mathew Shighwadja, did not have to seek election, as they are also district co-ordinators of the 14 Swapo Party districts in the Khomas Region.Nujoma cancelled his appearance at the meeting at the last minute and his speech was delivered by Swapo Deputy Secretary General John Pandeni, who also holds the portfolio of Minster of Local and Regional Government, Housing and Rural Development.”This is not how democracy works,” a source close to the Swapo national leadership told The Namibian after the opening.”A vibrant democracy has room for other political parties.One cannot say Swapo will always win.”The meeting of 83 delegates – who had to elect a new regional leadership and delegates for the national party congress scheduled for next November – lasted until early yesterday morning.”It took until 06h00 this morning,” an exhausted delegate told The Namibian yesterday.Other members contacted about the names of the newly elected leaders had their cellphones switched off.Another one curtly told the reporter that it was the weekend.”Do you know that today is Sunday?” the member asked.Ten delegates were selected to represent the Khomas Region at the Swapo congress in November.Three positions at regional level were also contested: Michael Mwinga retained his position as Khomas Regional Co-ordinator and Gerson Kamatuka as his deputy.Rafael Mbala was elected as information and mobilisation co-ordinator.Kamatuka confirmed the elections to The Namibian yesterday.”We will have another meeting again soon to form an electoral college to elect four people who aspire to become members of the future central committee to be elected at the national congress in November,” Kamatuka said.The other 24 members of the 27-strong Khomas executive committee, which includes Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo, Alpheus Muhehua and Bro-Mathew Shighwadja, did not have to seek election, as they are also district co-ordinators of the 14 Swapo Party districts in the Khomas Region.