Nujoma lambasts ‘defectors’

SWAPO Party President Sam Nujoma has accused former members who resigned from Swapo three weeks ago of being “enemies of the country”, “always causing division” and of “systematic sabotage of the national economy.”

Opening the Swapo central committee late yesterday, which was preceded by a Politburo meeting the same day, Nujoma said: “The enemies of our country will not appreciate peace and tranquillity in Namibia. They will always try to cause division and disunity among the leadership and rank and file of the Swapo party in order to reverse the gains of our hard-won freedom and Independence.”Nujoma was hinting at former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya, who also was Trade and Industry Minister, and was sacked by Nujoma in 2004.Hamutenya quit Swapo earlier this month and is now the interim president of a new political party, the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP).”The recent fallout of some individuals from Swapo should be seen in this context,” Nujoma told the CC.”They promise a brighter future – what future?” he asked, drawing ululations and applause from the Swapo cadres.”They instead embarked on a systematic sabotage of our national economy.It is the same individuals who supervised over and undermined projects and companies such as Pidico, Development Brigade Corporation, National Development Corporation, Patriotic Construction Company, Offshore Development Company, Namibia Contract Haulage, Kalahari Holdings (a Swapo company) and others that were initiated to create employment opportunities for thousands of unemployed Namibians,” Nujoma said.”What magic do they have now to create better opportunities when they have failed the Namibian people for years,” Nujoma asked rhetorically, again earning strong applause.He called those who left Swapo “failed politicians driven by selfish and individual interests”.”They are hypocrites who wish to take advantage of the challenges our nation faces as a springboard and seize power and serve their selfish interests,” Nujoma said.He called on Swapo members and Namibians to be “on full alert” and vigilant and “not misled by lies and deceit spread by such dishonest and unscrupulous elements.”Nujoma then turned to party discipline and unity within Swapo, stressing that the party constitution should be adhered to.Nujoma, who announced last month that he would not stand for re-election as Swapo president during this week’s party congress, did however not mention that he was opening the CC meeting for the last time yesterday.He only welcomed all members “to this historic central committee meeting.”The meeting will end later today.They will always try to cause division and disunity among the leadership and rank and file of the Swapo party in order to reverse the gains of our hard-won freedom and Independence.”Nujoma was hinting at former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya, who also was Trade and Industry Minister, and was sacked by Nujoma in 2004.Hamutenya quit Swapo earlier this month and is now the interim president of a new political party, the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP). “The recent fallout of some individuals from Swapo should be seen in this context,” Nujoma told the CC.”They promise a brighter future – what future?” he asked, drawing ululations and applause from the Swapo cadres.”They instead embarked on a systematic sabotage of our national economy.It is the same individuals who supervised over and undermined projects and companies such as Pidico, Development Brigade Corporation, National Development Corporation, Patriotic Construction Company, Offshore Development Company, Namibia Contract Haulage, Kalahari Holdings (a Swapo company) and others that were initiated to create employment opportunities for thousands of unemployed Namibians,” Nujoma said.”What magic do they have now to create better opportunities when they have failed the Namibian people for years,” Nujoma asked rhetorically, again earning strong applause.He called those who left Swapo “failed politicians driven by selfish and individual interests”.”They are hypocrites who wish to take advantage of the challenges our nation faces as a springboard and seize power and serve their selfish interests,” Nujoma said.He called on Swapo members and Namibians to be “on full alert” and vigilant and “not misled by lies and deceit spread by such dishonest and unscrupulous elements.”Nujoma then turned to party discipline and unity within Swapo, stressing that the party constitution should be adhered to.Nujoma, who announced last month that he would not stand for re-election as Swapo president during this week’s party congress, did however not mention that he was opening the CC meeting for the last time yesterday.He only welcomed all members “to this historic central committee meeting.”The meeting will end later today.