Swanu at 50 years ‘the mother of all parties’

THE oldest political party in Namibia, the SWA National Union (Swanu), is the ‘mother of all political parties’ as it was the first national liberation movement in the country, its former president Gerson Hitjevi Veii said on Saturday.

Speaking at the party’s 50th anniversary celebration in Khomasdal, he said Swanu still has a major role to play in Namibian politics, Veii said after a preliminary meeting in August 1959, Swanu was formed on September 27 the same year and its members included prominent Namibians like former President Sam Nujoma and the country’s first Ombudsman, Advocate Fanuel Kozonguizi. ‘We really embraced all Namibians and then three Swapo members got arrested a few years later, Swanu members staged a protest meeting, we were the only party doing that, which led to my arrest in 1966 and incarceration at Robben Island. Swanu did contribute towards the liberation struggle of Namibia and nobody can say the opposite,’ Veii told the approximately 100 people who attended the ceremony. Although all political parties in Namibia were invited, only the Secretary General of the Namibia Movement for Democratic Change (NMDC) attended. None of the other parties even sent a message of congratulations. ‘At least former President Sam Nujoma, who was also invited, acknowledged our invitation, although he could not be here today,’ said Swanu Secretary General Tangeni Ijambo.Veii, who was sentenced to one year in solitary confinement and then spent four years on Robben Island prison in South Africa, was elected Swanu president in absentia in 1968 and held the post until 1988.Unlike other political parties, Swanu had had seven presidents over the past 50 years, which reflected its adherence to democratic principles, Veii said.He reminded the gathering of the tragic events at the old location of Windhoek, today’s Hochland Park suburb, where on December 10 1959, Swanu was the main organiser of protests by black people who refused to be moved to a new location, Katutura.’About 13 people were shot dead that day, but today this day is called Day of the Women, our day has been taken away from us. We should then take away Cassinga Day (May 4 1978),’ Veii said, criticising the ruling Swapo Party.He urged members to start documenting and writing the history of Swanu and its role in the liberation struggle so that it could be recorded for future generations.Botswana’s High Commissioner to Namibia, Norman Moleboge, said he remembered how nearly 40 years ago he was a police officer in a small town in Botswana and there were about 30 Swanu members in exile there. ‘When I came to Namibia (as a diplomat) I managed to establish contact with some of them and we talked about those days and it was very interesting for me to hear what had become of that group. Sadly a few of them have passed away in the meantime,’ Moleboge said.Swanu President Usutuaije Maamberua said it was time that Swanu’s role in the liberation struggle was acknowledged in today’s independent Namibia.’It is not farfetched to suggest that Swanu deserves a place on the high table at next year’s Heroes’ Day commemoration. This is long overdue and Swanu should be the main speaker at that event in 2010.’After the formal jubilee event, Swanu members and supporters moved from the Tabitha Centre in Khomasdal for a braai at the Katutura Community Hall on Saturday night. The top leadership of Swanu visited the graves of their fallen members at the old cemetery in Hochland Park on Sunday morning.brigitte@namibian.com.na