NEFF rewards man whoslapped Swapo member

… gives him N$1 000 ‘for job well done’

Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) deputy president and member of parliament Longinus Iipumbu has defended the man who slapped a Swapo member at a party event at Mix Settlement in Windhoek on Saturday.

Iipumbu (41) told The Namibian yesterday Moses Ndjene did the “right thing” and was defending himself and others who are frustrated with the lack of progress of development programmes.

He asserted that Swapo has been lying to the nation for 34 years.

NEFF gave Ndjene N$1 000 as “an appreciation” for assaulting Swapo branch coordinator Bonifatius Munango, he said, adding that the money was a sign of solidarity with Ndjene and a message to those who lie about development programmes.

“He did that in the best interest of the masses,” Iipumbu said, while downplaying the violence.

“This is rubbish, you cannot be pushed left, right and centre while you are addressing the necessities that need to be addressed. What this man has done was not only to defend himself but also those who do not have the muscles to defend themselves when they are told to leave.

“As an organisation … we need to call these people to order. The comrade did well. He did well because the three people that were pushing him around should understand that Namibia is a country where we have equal rights.

“He was already cornered, we saw in the videos. It’s clear the person was in a corner and anything could happen.”

“Swapo has been lying for the past 34 years. For us the comrade has done a great job in terms of defending himself,” Iipumbu said.

Although NEFF does not condone violence, the reality on the ground should be told that people are hungry and will continue to be hungry if their plight is not properly addressed, he said.

“The way this person has reacted is a signal that people are really angry. The services are not being channeled through.”

Iipumbu said Swapo members should have allowed Ndjene to express himself before he was told to leave the venue.

“You could see the anger in him. The person has been living with that anger and when that time comes, you should allow that person to express himself and address the situation and apologise that as government we have been really delaying things,” Iipumbu said.

Instead of Swapo apologising to the residents of Mix Settlement, they went ahead and told Ndjene to leave, he added.

On Sunday, NEFF member Michael Amushelelo met with Ndjene, describing him as a legend who slapped corruption in the face.

Amushelelo handed Ndjene N$1 000 on behalf of NEFF.

Political analyst Henning Melber said NEFF rewarding Ndjene financially is an unsavory gesture tantamount to approving, if not encouraging or even instigating, physical violence for political reasons.

“It deserves unreserved condemnation – more so than the spontaneous outburst itself, which gained public prominence for being recorded and widely shared on social media. Just imagine for a moment that Swapo supporters would in similar ways attack NEFF campaigners or those of any other party. These would be the first to rightly cry foul,” Melber said.

He added that NEFF is entering a dangerous road and they should be taken to task with the uncompromising condemnation this deserves.

“Such spontaneous outbursts should not be gaining any prominence … anyone responding in the affirmative is contributing to civil unrest.”

Melber said no one should vote for a party that offers rewards for physical violence as a matter of campaigning.
Political analyst Rui Tyitende said the financial gesture is an indication of a poverty of imagination that engulfs the Namibian political discourse.

“Violence of any sort should be condemned by all that embrace democratic principles.”

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), which enforces the electoral code of conduct for political parties, did not respond to questions sent to it at the time of going to print yesterday.

The code of conduct is a set of rules of behaviour for political parties and their supporters relating to their participation in an electoral process, which parties are expected to adhere to.
See photo on page 3.