RDP takes stock of Omuthiya election

THE Rally for Democracy and Progress says it was worth participating in last weekend’s local authority election at Omuthiya.

The steering committee of the RDP met over the weekend to take stock and give an analysis of events before, during and after the election. The party is in the process of organising its first convention as well as preparing for the national and presidential elections next year.”The participation of the RDP in these elections has in fact broken the monolith of Swapo and has introduced the electorate to a multi-party democracy and opposition party politics.Also, the hot-headed Swapo storm troopers have to contend with the presence of the RDP amongst them,” the committee said in a statement.RDP said the Omuthiya election was held against a background of political intimidation, harassments, insults and threats to prevent their members and supporters from freely choosing a party of their choice.It said some of their leaders were called Satans and Judas Iscariots while statements like “cut off their tails”, threats to deny RDP members water and organise people to boycott their businesses were also used.”These have been some of the serious politically motivated intimidations intended to scare residents of Omuthiya not to exercise their democratic rights and cast their votes on the 26th of September 2008.”The party also claimed that people were threatened that if they voted for RDP, their pension money would be withheld or suspended and those employed could lose their jobs, while secret cameras would monitor who voted for RDP.The Namibian was unable to cross-check the truthfulness of the claims.”The above catalogue of intimidations has obviously affected the way people voted and eventually influenced the outcome of the elections.We believe if there were no such widespread intimidations, RDP could have fared much better,” the party said.Immediately after the results were announced during the early hours of last Saturday, RDP spokesperson Martin Heita said they were “very happy” with their performance.”This is a victory for RDP and democracy and we are going to celebrate even though we have a long way to go,” he said.Yesterday the RDP said the playing field was not level as long as the ballot papers were printed by a Swapo-owned company.”Also, we strongly and repeatedly registered our opposition to the transporting of ballot boxes.We do this fully aware that the forces of reaction and anti-democracy in this country will stop at nothing in their drive to derail that democratic process.They are playing delaying tactics with this practice of transporting ballot papers,” the party said.The SADC protocol on elections calls for the counting of ballot papers at the polling station.”What is left for the Namibian Parliament is merely to endorse the SADC protocol.And this can be done by a stroke of a pen.”The RDP leadership said their first seat was a victory to the people of Omuthiya because the party will be an active participant in the development of the town.”RDP will continue to participate in future electoral processes in the country in order to uphold its commitment to democracy and the rule of law.”The party is in the process of organising its first convention as well as preparing for the national and presidential elections next year.”The participation of the RDP in these elections has in fact broken the monolith of Swapo and has introduced the electorate to a multi-party democracy and opposition party politics.Also, the hot-headed Swapo storm troopers have to contend with the presence of the RDP amongst them,” the committee said in a statement.RDP said the Omuthiya election was held against a background of political intimidation, harassments, insults and threats to prevent their members and supporters from freely choosing a party of their choice.It said some of their leaders were called Satans and Judas Iscariots while statements like “cut off their tails”, threats to deny RDP members water and organise people to boycott their businesses were also used.”These have been some of the serious politically motivated intimidations intended to scare residents of Omuthiya not to exercise their democratic rights and cast their votes on the 26th of September 2008.”The party also claimed that people were threatened that if they voted for RDP, their pension money would be withheld or suspended and those employed could lose their jobs, while secret cameras would monitor who voted for RDP.The Namibian was unable to cross-check the truthfulness of the claims.”The above catalogue of intimidations has obviously affected the way people voted and eventually influenced the outcome of the elections.We believe if there were no such widespread intimidations, RDP could have fared much better,” the party said.Immediately after the results were announced during the early hours of last Saturday, RDP spokesperson Martin Heita said they were “very happy” with their performance.”This is a victory for RDP and democracy and we are going to celebrate even though we have a long way to go,” he said.Yesterday the RDP said the playing field was not level as long as the ballot papers were printed by a Swapo-owned company.”Also, we strongly and repeatedly registered our opposition to the transporting of ballot boxes.We do this fully aware that the forces of reaction and anti-democracy in this country will stop at nothing in their drive to derail that democratic process.They are playing delaying tactics with this practice of transporting ballot papers,” the party said.The SADC protocol on elections calls for the counting of ballot papers at the polling station.”What is left for the Namibian Parliament is merely to endorse the SADC protocol.And this can be done by a stroke of a pen.”The RDP leadership said their first seat was a victory to the people of Omuthiya because the party will be an active participant in the development of the town.”RDP will continue to participate in future electoral processes in the country in order to uphold its commitment to democracy and the rule of law.”