Pohamba urges restraint

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba on Saturday implored supporters of Swapo and opposition parties alike to immediately halt political violence.

“All opposition parties, including the Swapo Party, must ensure that their members do not resort to any politically driven violent activities,” Pohamba urged at a Swapo rally at Keetmanshoop’s J Stephanus Stadium. Pohamba’s call follows reports of increasing cases of politically motivated violence and intimidation ahead of a local authority by-election at the newly proclaimed town of Omuthiya in the Oshikoto Region.The election was called off at the last minute because two of the contesting political parties raised objections to 54 names on the voters’ roll.It will be rescheduled at a later date.Pohamba said political violence should be reported to the Police without delay.”Political violence causes destruction to the socio-economic development of a country,” Pohamba warned, referring to the recent post-election mayhem and bloodshed in Kenya.Pohamba said too many Namibians had sacrificed their lives during the liberation struggle, therefore no deaths caused by political violence would be condoned.”No more war; we want peace and stability,” he said.”The war we must fight is against poverty,” he added.NUJOMA ‘DISMAYED’ Also speaking at the well-attended Swapo rally, founding President Sam Nujoma expressed dismay over people who he claimed chose not to recognise the Government’s achievements, including peace and stability.”They have chosen instead to trigger tribalism and ethnicity and divide our people,” Nujoma claimed.”I would like to caution fellow Namibians that we had enough of apartheid colonialism and its divisive tendencies of divide-and-rule,” Nujoma added.Also in attendance at the rally were Swapo Vice President Hage Geingob, Swapo Deputy Secretary General Nangolo Mbumba and some of the party’s Central Committee members, who were introduced to the public at the rally.Pohamba’s call follows reports of increasing cases of politically motivated violence and intimidation ahead of a local authority by-election at the newly proclaimed town of Omuthiya in the Oshikoto Region.The election was called off at the last minute because two of the contesting political parties raised objections to 54 names on the voters’ roll.It will be rescheduled at a later date.Pohamba said political violence should be reported to the Police without delay.”Political violence causes destruction to the socio-economic development of a country,” Pohamba warned, referring to the recent post-election mayhem and bloodshed in Kenya.Pohamba said too many Namibians had sacrificed their lives during the liberation struggle, therefore no deaths caused by political violence would be condoned. “No more war; we want peace and stability,” he said.”The war we must fight is against poverty,” he added. NUJOMA ‘DISMAYED’ Also speaking at the well-attended Swapo rally, founding President Sam Nujoma expressed dismay over people who he claimed chose not to recognise the Government’s achievements, including peace and stability.”They have chosen instead to trigger tribalism and ethnicity and divide our people,” Nujoma claimed.”I would like to caution fellow Namibians that we had enough of apartheid colonialism and its divisive tendencies of divide-and-rule,” Nujoma added.Also in attendance at the rally were Swapo Vice President Hage Geingob, Swapo Deputy Secretary General Nangolo Mbumba and some of the party’s Central Committee members, who were introduced to the public at the rally.