New APP party’s Rundu launch a ‘huge success’

THOUSANDS of people from the Kavango Region filled the Rundu sports stadium on Saturday to witness the launch of the new All People’s Party (APP), lead by the two Shixwameni brothers, Ignatius and Herbert.

No incidents of intimidation or violence occurred. “The stadium was as full yesterday as Saturday a week ago, when the ruling Swapo party held a rally here, where President Hifikepunye Pohamba spoke,” Herbert Shixwameni told The Namibian yesterday.”The large crowd at our APP rally was the biggest ever of any opposition party in Rundu since Independence,” Shixwameni added.”It shows that Namibian voters are really looking for alternatives and the large turnout is surely a shock for Swapo.”The enthusiastic masses marched from Sauyema township on the western outskirts of the town down the main road to the stadium, accompanied by a vehicle convoy, an onlooker told The Namibian.Police were on guard to ensure an orderly procession.Herbert Shixwameni resigned from Swapo – and from his post as Swapo regional councillor – in November last year.According to him, APP members reported to him that three top Government officials watching the march had allegedly told people they would have their names removed from the list of beneficiaries for drought relief.”This was the only incident reported to us and the names of the three men, otherwise everything went peacefully and the Police did a very good job,” Herbert Shixwameni noted.The APP will hold its inaugural congress later this year.Ignatius Shixwameni resigned from the opposition party Congress of Democrats (CoD) in December.He had joined the CoD in 1999, having resigned from Swapo and from his post as Deputy Information and Broadcasting Minister.”The stadium was as full yesterday as Saturday a week ago, when the ruling Swapo party held a rally here, where President Hifikepunye Pohamba spoke,” Herbert Shixwameni told The Namibian yesterday.”The large crowd at our APP rally was the biggest ever of any opposition party in Rundu since Independence,” Shixwameni added.”It shows that Namibian voters are really looking for alternatives and the large turnout is surely a shock for Swapo.”The enthusiastic masses marched from Sauyema township on the western outskirts of the town down the main road to the stadium, accompanied by a vehicle convoy, an onlooker told The Namibian.Police were on guard to ensure an orderly procession.Herbert Shixwameni resigned from Swapo – and from his post as Swapo regional councillor – in November last year.According to him, APP members reported to him that three top Government officials watching the march had allegedly told people they would have their names removed from the list of beneficiaries for drought relief.”This was the only incident reported to us and the names of the three men, otherwise everything went peacefully and the Police did a very good job,” Herbert Shixwameni noted.The APP will hold its inaugural congress later this year.Ignatius Shixwameni resigned from the opposition party Congress of Democrats (CoD) in December.He had joined the CoD in 1999, having resigned from Swapo and from his post as Deputy Information and Broadcasting Minister.