Swapo leader calls for unity among members

A REGIONAL leader of the Swapo party in the Ohangwena Region has appealed for unity and respect for democratic principles among party members.

Swapo party co-ordinator Nestor Shuukwanyama was addressing members of the party’s Women’s Council at a regional conference at Eenhana on Saturday. The meeting was held to elect regional executive committee members for the next five years.”Within the Swapo party, all members have obligations as well as rights to participate in Swapo party conferences and the meetings of other party organs,” Shuukwanyama said.He added that all party members were required to comply with the decisions, resolutions and directives of the majority, even though they might have voted against them.”The moment a decision is made, all the other members must join in and there is no need for negative campaigning,” said Shuukwanyama.”But sometimes there is doubt and confusion in the minds of our people in the country, due to the fact that there might occur division, infighting and instability during the conferences and congress of the party.”He said the fighting for positions in the party by some individuals was not in the interest of the Party, the country or its people.”Do not harass and victimise victors and their supporters, so also not the losers and their supporters.Some party members are also trying to character-assassinate other party members, a practice that is not healthy at all,” Shuukwanyama warned.He also called upon party members to refrain from tribalism.”Whether you are Omundonga or Omukwanyama, or from other ethnic groups, in Swapo we are all one and have to remain united,” he said.”From today onwards, let us unite as we have been before, let us accept a democratic defeat, let us defend and protect Namibia’s hard-won freedom and independence, let us combat retrogressive tendencies of tribalism , ethnicity, nepotism, racism, sexism and so on, and let us work hard to fight underdevelopment, poverty, illiteracy and diseases, especially the scourge of the incurable disease HIV-AIDS,” Shuukwanyama urged the party members.The meeting was held to elect regional executive committee members for the next five years.”Within the Swapo party, all members have obligations as well as rights to participate in Swapo party conferences and the meetings of other party organs,” Shuukwanyama said.He added that all party members were required to comply with the decisions, resolutions and directives of the majority, even though they might have voted against them.”The moment a decision is made, all the other members must join in and there is no need for negative campaigning,” said Shuukwanyama.”But sometimes there is doubt and confusion in the minds of our people in the country, due to the fact that there might occur division, infighting and instability during the conferences and congress of the party.”He said the fighting for positions in the party by some individuals was not in the interest of the Party, the country or its people.”Do not harass and victimise victors and their supporters, so also not the losers and their supporters.Some party members are also trying to character-assassinate other party members, a practice that is not healthy at all,” Shuukwanyama warned.He also called upon party members to refrain from tribalism.”Whether you are Omundonga or Omukwanyama, or from other ethnic groups, in Swapo we are all one and have to remain united,” he said.”From today onwards, let us unite as we have been before, let us accept a democratic defeat, let us defend and protect Namibia’s hard-won freedom and independence, let us combat retrogressive tendencies of tribalism , ethnicity, nepotism, racism, sexism and so on, and let us work hard to fight underdevelopment, poverty, illiteracy and diseases, especially the scourge of the incurable disease HIV-AIDS,” Shuukwanyama urged the party members.