Namibia can not ignore situation in Zim: Ulenga

THE volatile situation in Zimbabwe should not be viewed in isolation because it threatens the hard-fought democracy and freedom of Africa, Ben Ulenga of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) told Parliament yesterday.

“Our Government has become an accomplice in the trampling of the political rights of a neighbouring sister country,” Ulenga said when tabling a motion asking the House to debate the conditions in Zimbabwe. “Our silence will mean acquiescence to tyranny, political oppression and murder of innocent Zimbabweans,” Ulenga cautioned.”For this reason we must condemn this violence and the political repression of the Zimbabwean people in the clearest and most categorical of languages.”We must recommend to President Hifikepunye Pohamba to withdraw Namibia’s endorsement of South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki as the mediator for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Zimbabwe,” he demanded.”We must speak in the sternest of tones to Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, that Namibia’s National Assembly does not approve of his rubbishing of Zimbabwe and its people.Namibia must demand the optimum atmosphere for free and fair elections there, especially the presidential run off scheduled for June 27.”Ulenga distributed copies of a letter sent by Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to President Mbeki last month, in which he accuses Mbeki of lacking neutrality and says his party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), no longer wants him as a mediator.Ulenga said Namibia’s Parliament could not ignore Tsvangirai’s position with regard to Mbeki.”The freedom of the people of Zimbabwe is finally and ultimately tied to our own [freedom],” Ulenga told the House.”Our own political achievements in terms of freedom, democracy and peace are being threatened,” he warned.”Our silence will mean acquiescence to tyranny, political oppression and murder of innocent Zimbabweans,” Ulenga cautioned.”For this reason we must condemn this violence and the political repression of the Zimbabwean people in the clearest and most categorical of languages.”We must recommend to President Hifikepunye Pohamba to withdraw Namibia’s endorsement of South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki as the mediator for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Zimbabwe,” he demanded.”We must speak in the sternest of tones to Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, that Namibia’s National Assembly does not approve of his rubbishing of Zimbabwe and its people.Namibia must demand the optimum atmosphere for free and fair elections there, especially the presidential run off scheduled for June 27.”Ulenga distributed copies of a letter sent by Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to President Mbeki last month, in which he accuses Mbeki of lacking neutrality and says his party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), no longer wants him as a mediator.Ulenga said Namibia’s Parliament could not ignore Tsvangirai’s position with regard to Mbeki.”The freedom of the people of Zimbabwe is finally and ultimately tied to our own [freedom],” Ulenga told the House.”Our own political achievements in terms of freedom, democracy and peace are being threatened,” he warned.