FORMER minister of environment Uahekua Herunga said Swapo plans to hold campaigns at Omuhonga and Ongongo villages, which are regarded as Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) strongholds.
The villages are situated in the Epupa constituency in the Kunene region.
“There is a village called Omuhonga. Apparently Swapo does not ever enter that village and nobody from Omuhonga is allowed to be a member of Swapo,” said Herunga at a Swapo rally, held at Okanguati in the Kunene region on Saturday.
Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa also addressed the rally.
Herunga said for years it was difficult for Swapo to campaign in these villages.
Speaking to The Namibian this week, Herunga said when Swapo went to campaign at these two villages in the past, villagers would simply assemble at a tree, but not attend Swapo rallies.
“They are known as Swapo no-go areas, not literally to say if they go there, there will be war. People in those villages stick to their PDM or Democratic Turnhalle Alliance political party; they don't join any other political party,” he said.
“We used to go there with the police to make sure nothing happens to us.”
However, Swapo now claim that 130 people joined the ruling part at Okanguati on Friday, although Herunga is not sure how many of these new members are from the Ongongo and Omuhonga villages.
“This was the first time to welcome new members publicly. There are 130 new members. Previously, there used to be one person who was hiding because of political intimidation, but as of now it's open, that's why Swapo has a breakthrough in a former PDM no-go area.”
He said this is an indication that Swapo has made inroads in the PDM stronghold.
“People told us they wanted us to hurry, we should have been there for two to three days so we could get more people. It's a very serious breakthrough… we will go back after the Swapo policy conference,” he said.
“We will go from village to village, and make sure we deliver the right message to the people,” he said.
PDM secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe said Swapo was dreaming, and are trying their best to buy people with false promises of employment and other developments to the Kunene region.
“They are also promising to recognise the non-gazetted traditional leadership. Swapo had its chance, and now it lapsed because of non delivery of services in the region. It is clear that they have lost total control of the region and are desperate to do something,” he said.
Ngaringombe added that the people of Kunene are tired of Swapo's empty promises, and maintained that PDM members in Kunene are consistently behind their party, which is growing from strength to strength.
“Swapo should concentrate on saving their party from collapsing and stop fighting a battle in the Kunene region they will never win,” he said.
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