New party says it will provide alternative to divisive politics

EVENTS in recent years in Caprivi, notably the 1999 secessionist attack, have left the region so badly divided that development in the area has stagnated, says a residents’ association contesting Friday’s Local Authority elections.

The Katima Alliance for Development Association (KADA) says it is bent on “kicking out” political parties from the town’s council “because they have failed the people”. “Political parties are bringing tension to the region.Our people have turned into tribal groups without trust for one another”, one of KADA’s candidates, Patricia Nyazo, said this week.”There is no unity, hence development has stopped… potential investors are shying away from Katima Mulilo.”Nyazo added:”This secessionist thing is still in the people’s minds; it’s affecting and dividing them a lot, but instead of tackling it, political parties are taking advantage of the situation.”KADA, which was only formed in February, hopes that its call for unity and broad-based representation will give it an edge over other contestants at Katima Mulilo – which has changed hands between the DTA and Swapo during the last two local authority polls.The association claims to draw its support from all ethnic groups in the Caprivi, as well as from the business community.The DTA swept to an easy victory at the town in the first post-Independence Local Authority election in 1992, with the Swapo Party taking charge in 1998.Nyazo alleged that the first two councils were characterised by corruption and maladministration, while development at the town remained in the doldrums.She lamented a lack of adequate water supply, housing and health facilities as some of the problems that needed immediate attention.”What we are seeing now is that these same people that were accused of malpractices in the past are being put forward again for re-election.”Nyazo blamed political parties for the current situation affecting the majority of municipalities in Namibia where residents refuse to pay for services.The KADA official suggested that instead of promising too many free services come election time, parties should rather educate electorates about their responsibilities.”There is nothing for ‘mahala’ these days.Services ought to be paid for one way or another, and people should not be fooled about this,” she noted.KADA’s candidates for the Katima Mulilo local authority are:Maria Visagie, Patrick Mwilima, Patricia Nyazo, Susan Coetzee, Pastor Semi Mathias, Morista Mashangu and Alex Nawa.”Political parties are bringing tension to the region.Our people have turned into tribal groups without trust for one another”, one of KADA’s candidates, Patricia Nyazo, said this week.”There is no unity, hence development has stopped… potential investors are shying away from Katima Mulilo.”Nyazo added:”This secessionist thing is still in the people’s minds; it’s affecting and dividing them a lot, but instead of tackling it, political parties are taking advantage of the situation.”KADA, which was only formed in February, hopes that its call for unity and broad-based representation will give it an edge over other contestants at Katima Mulilo – which has changed hands between the DTA and Swapo during the last two local authority polls.The association claims to draw its support from all ethnic groups in the Caprivi, as well as from the business community.The DTA swept to an easy victory at the town in the first post-Independence Local Authority election in 1992, with the Swapo Party taking charge in 1998.Nyazo alleged that the first two councils were characterised by corruption and maladministration, while development at the town remained in the doldrums.She lamented a lack of adequate water supply, housing and health facilities as some of the problems that needed immediate attention.”What we are seeing now is that these same people that were accused of malpractices in the past are being put forward again for re-election.”Nyazo blamed political parties for the current situation affecting the majority of municipalities in Namibia where residents refuse to pay for services.The KADA official suggested that instead of promising too many free services come election time, parties should rather educate electorates about their responsibilities.”There is nothing for ‘mahala’ these days.Services ought to be paid for one way or another, and people should not be fooled about this,” she noted.KADA’s candidates for the Katima Mulilo local authority are:Maria Visagie, Patrick Mwilima, Patricia Nyazo, Susan Coetzee, Pastor Semi Mathias, Morista Mashangu and Alex Nawa.