Former prime minister Nahas Angula has defended his nomination as one of the 11 speakers at the Oshikoto region’s 36th Independence Day event.
The region has listed 11 Swapo members as the main speakers for the day.
They are Angula, deputy minister of education Dino Ballotti, labour minister Wise Immanuel, former finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi, works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi, and National Council chairperson Lukas Muha.
Others include former Ohangwena governor Usko Nghaamwa, former Oshikoto governor Penda ya Ndakolo, current Oshikoto governor Sacky Kathindi, mines minister Modestus Amutse and Swapo parliamentarian Willem Amutenya.
Speaking to The Namibian yesterday, Angula said he had received the invitation from the regional council.
“I am not the one who sent out the invitations, and I don’t know if all the speakers at the Independence Day event are Swapo members. So I can’t comment on that.
“I am not the one who selected the speakers. I was informed by the councillor for the Omuthiya constituency, so I cannot comment further,” he said.
Ya Ndakolo yesterday said he was not aware that all the speakers were Swapo members either.
“The invitation came from the regional council itself, and they are the ones who decided on those matters. They thought there was this important event in our constituency, and therefore I was included. I received a letter from the constituency councillor asking me to address the event. I am a soldier.
“If there are those who are trying to play politics, they are allowed by the Constitution to do so, but the independence of this country is not meant for a certain political party or Swapo members alone.
“It is for the whole nation; no one is excluded. History must be told, and anyone claiming that Independence Day is a Swapo event is totally wrong,” he said.
Oshikoto governor Sacky Kathindi yesterday said when president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that Independence Day would be celebrated simultaneously across the country, the Oshikoto leadership met and collectively decided to focus on the challenges and opportunities of the region.
“We decided that we would hold the event in each constituency. That was the decision taken by the leadership. The Constitution does not comprise Swapo members only.
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The responsibility was given to the constituencies’ leadership – that is, the constituency development committee, chaired by councillors. They were tasked with identifying whoever was available and sending out invitations,” he said.
Kathindi said the invitations had nothing to do with political affiliation.
He said non-Swapo members were also invited and that he had no influence over the decision.
“They invited more than three people in some cases, sometimes even more than five. I know of people who are not Swapo members who were invited because they are leaders. It was about availability on that day. It is a national event, not a political one,” he said.
Kathindi did, however, not specify who the invited non-Swapo members are.
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