Nujoma says ‘reactionary’ forces trying to destabilise the country

NAMIBIANS have been cautioned against “reactionary” forces which President Sam Nujoma claims aim to not only divide the ruling party, Swapo, but also the country.

“Forces of imperialism and capitalism are here and working very hard to divide us – even in the Swapo leadership,” he told a few hundred people at a rally at Rehoboth on Saturday. Campaigning for support for Friday’s local authority elections the President told the crowd that people were being bribed and “bought cars” to cause disunity.”The time will come when we will spot them and put them to shame,” he warned.He labelled the official opposition DTA as “reactionaries” and “tribalists”, saying they had no intention of developing Namibia to the benefit of all, but instead intended to serve the interests of a select few.”They didn’t initiate development programmes.The opposition did not have the needs and aspirations of our people at heart,” Nujoma said referring to the years during which the town was under DTA control.The President alleged that the DTA had caused the deterioration in the provision of services and public amenities at Rehoboth.Nujoma urged Swapo supporters to vote for his party in this week’s election, saying it was the only way development and reliable services would become a reality at the town.Nujoma bemoaned a situation in which, he said, Namibians were not benefiting equally from the country’s natural resources.He singled out the diamond mining industry as one of the greatest contributors to the country’s national revenue but said the country was being “cheated by foreigners”.”They [the diamonds] are being mined by foreigners.They are cheating us because they are not telling us their worth.They are being sold in London,” he said.He compared the industry to the Namibia’s other major natural resource – the fishing industry, saying that the playing field had been levelled to benefit the whole Namibian nation.”Don’t play with the land of the brave, we will get you,” he warned so-called capitalists whom he accused of robbing Namibians of what was rightfully theirs.The President promised that, if re-elected to power at Rehoboth, Swapo would forge ahead with tarring the streets at the town and prioritise a plan to start a railway passenger commuter service to Windhoek.”It is only the Swapo Party Government that has a comprehensive development agenda for the town of Rehoboth,” he said.In praise of Nujoma’s leadership since Independence, the Swapo leadership at Rehoboth assured Nujoma that “in event of a referendum we will respond with an overwhelming yes!” – referring to earlier speculation that the country could be asked to decide whether or not the President should stand for another term in office.Campaigning for support for Friday’s local authority elections the President told the crowd that people were being bribed and “bought cars” to cause disunity.”The time will come when we will spot them and put them to shame,” he warned.He labelled the official opposition DTA as “reactionaries” and “tribalists”, saying they had no intention of developing Namibia to the benefit of all, but instead intended to serve the interests of a select few.”They didn’t initiate development programmes.The opposition did not have the needs and aspirations of our people at heart,” Nujoma said referring to the years during which the town was under DTA control.The President alleged that the DTA had caused the deterioration in the provision of services and public amenities at Rehoboth.Nujoma urged Swapo supporters to vote for his party in this week’s election, saying it was the only way development and reliable services would become a reality at the town.Nujoma bemoaned a situation in which, he said, Namibians were not benefiting equally from the country’s natural resources.He singled out the diamond mining industry as one of the greatest contributors to the country’s national revenue but said the country was being “cheated by foreigners”.”They [the diamonds] are being mined by foreigners.They are cheating us because they are not telling us their worth.They are being sold in London,” he said.He compared the industry to the Namibia’s other major natural resource – the fishing industry, saying that the playing field had been levelled to benefit the whole Namibian nation.”Don’t play with the land of the brave, we will get you,” he warned so-called capitalists whom he accused of robbing Namibians of what was rightfully theirs.The President promised that, if re-elected to power at Rehoboth, Swapo would forge ahead with tarring the streets at the town and prioritise a plan to start a railway passenger commuter service to Windhoek.”It is only the Swapo Party Government that has a comprehensive development agenda for the town of Rehoboth,” he said.In praise of Nujoma’s leadership since Independence, the Swapo leadership at Rehoboth assured Nujoma that “in event of a referendum we will respond with an overwhelming yes!” – referring to earlier speculation that the country could be asked to decide whether or not the President should stand for another term in office.