RP slams stay-away voters

THE Republican Party says it is disappointed at the low turnout of white Namibians at last week’s by-election polls to elect a regional councillor.

In a statement, RP President Henk Mudge said it was unacceptable that some Namibians had not registered to vote, labelling them as “unpatriotic”. “They cannot expect others to contribute to ensure peace and prosperity in Namibia while the uncommitted just want to enjoy the fruits,” said Mudge.”The RP is determined to inform them about the dangers of the Zimbabwean mentality and to motivate them to become part of the new process”.The RP says one of the main reasons for reviving the party was to address voter apathy – especially amongst the white population – which it says has reached a level unacceptable in any democracy.The Republican Party came in last in the election.Their candidate, Marais Blaauw, pocketed only 5,5 per cent of the vote.But the party attributed this to organisational and logistical constraints – saying these had made it difficult to campaign and to counter alleged “intimidation by Swapo”.”We are extremely happy with the fact that a number of former Swapo supporters joined the RP at Grootfontein and we are determined to prove, in the very near future, that the RP is a force to be reckoned with,” said Mudge.The Grootfontein seat went to Swapo’s candidate Peter Kawana with 60,3 per cent of the vote.Narrowly beaten by the DTA and Nudo, the RP said the reactivation of the party had proved positive in light of the increased voter turnout at the Grootfontein polls.”Prophets of doom who predicted that the RP would split the votes and allow Swapo to increase its majority were proven wrong,” said the leader.Voter participation almost doubled this year compared to the 1998 Regional Council elections, when the turnout was 27 per cent.Despite the increase, Swapo’s majority vote dropped from 68,5 per cent in 1998 to 62 per cent this time around.”This bodes well for those of us who are determined to restrict Swapo’s majority in the coming elections to below 66 per cent and to reverse the tendency [for majority growth] and the worry that Namibia is moving in the direction of a one-party state,” said Mudge.”They cannot expect others to contribute to ensure peace and prosperity in Namibia while the uncommitted just want to enjoy the fruits,” said Mudge. “The RP is determined to inform them about the dangers of the Zimbabwean mentality and to motivate them to become part of the new process”. The RP says one of the main reasons for reviving the party was to address voter apathy – especially amongst the white population – which it says has reached a level unacceptable in any democracy. The Republican Party came in last in the election. Their candidate, Marais Blaauw, pocketed only 5,5 per cent of the vote. But the party attributed this to organisational and logistical constraints – saying these had made it difficult to campaign and to counter alleged “intimidation by Swapo”. “We are extremely happy with the fact that a number of former Swapo supporters joined the RP at Grootfontein and we are determined to prove, in the very near future, that the RP is a force to be reckoned with,” said Mudge. The Grootfontein seat went to Swapo’s candidate Peter Kawana with 60,3 per cent of the vote. Narrowly beaten by the DTA and Nudo, the RP said the reactivation of the party had proved positive in light of the increased voter turnout at the Grootfontein polls. “Prophets of doom who predicted that the RP would split the votes and allow Swapo to increase its majority were proven wrong,” said the leader. Voter participation almost doubled this year compared to the 1998 Regional Council elections, when the turnout was 27 per cent. Despite the increase, Swapo’s majority vote dropped from 68,5 per cent in 1998 to 62 per cent this time around. “This bodes well for those of us who are determined to restrict Swapo’s majority in the coming elections to below 66 per cent and to reverse the tendency [for majority growth] and the worry that Namibia is moving in the direction of a one-party state,” said Mudge.