‘Only Nujoma can restore Swapo’

SWAPO has the responsibility of running Namibia well and instilling hope where fear prevails, as the ruling party’s insecurity would become the country’s insecurity, veteran Swapo politician Ben Amathila cautioned yesterday.

“Let us not hope or wish that Swapo falls to pieces. I have the conviction that at this point in time, given the fear that people have about what is happening in Swapo, it is only Comrade Sam Nujoma, the President of Swapo, who can restore the situation in Swapo, a party he has led to greater success up to the present,” he said.Amathila, who is retiring from politics, was delivering his farewell speech in the National Assembly yesterday.”I expect Comrade Nujoma as father of the nation to treat everyone as a father will do and from every citizen to accord him recognition and respect for what he has done for this country and its people,” the former Information Minister said.Namibia could boast 17 years of peace and stability, which was often envied by many on the African continent, and the National Assembly was forged into a formidable institution of democracy, Amathila said.All this was accomplished through hope and security.Hope was important in a poverty-stricken country like Namibia – for the poorest hope that their fate might change for the better, to get employed, educated and trained.Thousands of Namibians however did not have the security of a home and an income.”Their insecurity becomes our insecurity.We are human beings only as long as our security is provided for, otherwise we act like trapped animals when our security is threatened,” Amathila emphasised.Namibia had many trained and skilled citizens who could help build the country and provide these securities for all.”We have to learn to appreciate their contributions and potentials, otherwise we may lose their skills to other countries who are dying to get them.This could happen by the things we say or do which create personal insecurity.This has nothing to do with skin colour, it is true for every citizen of our country,” he warned.”A person who is well provided with all forms of securities is more tolerant and understanding of other people’s point of view,” he added.Amathila refrained from giving an overview of his political career and merely said he would leave Parliament “in order to do some other things I failed to do”, drawing thunderous applause from both sides of the House.The visitors’ gallery was packed with mainly high-ranking Government officials who did not want to miss the occasion.I have the conviction that at this point in time, given the fear that people have about what is happening in Swapo, it is only Comrade Sam Nujoma, the President of Swapo, who can restore the situation in Swapo, a party he has led to greater success up to the present,” he said. Amathila, who is retiring from politics, was delivering his farewell speech in the National Assembly yesterday.”I expect Comrade Nujoma as father of the nation to treat everyone as a father will do and from every citizen to accord him recognition and respect for what he has done for this country and its people,” the former Information Minister said.Namibia could boast 17 years of peace and stability, which was often envied by many on the African continent, and the National Assembly was forged into a formidable institution of democracy, Amathila said.All this was accomplished through hope and security.Hope was important in a poverty-stricken country like Namibia – for the poorest hope that their fate might change for the better, to get employed, educated and trained.Thousands of Namibians however did not have the security of a home and an income.”Their insecurity becomes our insecurity.We are human beings only as long as our security is provided for, otherwise we act like trapped animals when our security is threatened,” Amathila emphasised.Namibia had many trained and skilled citizens who could help build the country and provide these securities for all.”We have to learn to appreciate their contributions and potentials, otherwise we may lose their skills to other countries who are dying to get them.This could happen by the things we say or do which create personal insecurity.This has nothing to do with skin colour, it is true for every citizen of our country,” he warned.”A person who is well provided with all forms of securities is more tolerant and understanding of other people’s point of view,” he added.Amathila refrained from giving an overview of his political career and merely said he would leave Parliament “in order to do some other things I failed to do”, drawing thunderous applause from both sides of the House.The visitors’ gallery was packed with mainly high-ranking Government officials who did not want to miss the occasion.