Swapo Must Walk The Talk

ALLOW me space to practise my freedom of expression in your newspaper.It’s interesting to note that Swapo Party, through its President, Dr Sam Nujoma, is trying to live up to the expectations of vision 2030 and NDP 2.

On Friday December 9 2005, when he officially opened a session of the Swapo Party Central Committee meeting at the Parliament building, Nujoma called for “all energies and resources to be focused on building a just society where all citizens of the country will have access to basic opportunities and fulfil their lives through access to quality education, employment, proper housing and quality health care and related social services”. This is a commendable call, if it is going to be taken seriously by the party’s rank and file.It is the ruling party that must lead by example, especially when it comes to “delivering quality public services to all our people”.All these impressive statements go hand in hand with practice to prevent them from being lip service.At the same time, what came to my mind is the function of the Swapo Party braai to raise funds for the construction of a new party headquarters, which is planned to be built in Katutura at a cost of N$149 million.I have witnessed a number of Government vehicles that were (ab)used for the party’s transportation activities.I was surprised to find more than 50 State vehicles were used to attend the Swapo Party braai.If that is the tradition, why are other political parties not given such opportunities? I also concur with those civil society organisations that have called on the Government to release the State-owned helicopter, which was used by the former president to carry out the Sam Nujoma Foundation’s activities, to be utilised for other stakeholders’ activities as well.One wonders why the Minister of Works, Transport and Communication only issued a bill to Swapo after the public outcry.The other shocking “visual art” is the photo of the former president on the wall of the Swapo Headquarters’ reception area that reads: “CDE Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, President of Swapo and President of the Republic of Namibia”.The question will be, who is in charge of this country? Is it Pohamba or Nujoma, or both, or are we waiting for the unknown in this country? If an ordinary person declared him or herself to be a “President of Namibia”, would this not be regarded as high treason or other conspiracy charges that could be laid against such person? Why is Nujoma allowed to do it while he personally knows that he is no longer a President of Namibia? Shame! In addition to the above, it is audacious of Dr Nujoma, in his capacity as the leader of the ruling party, to reject a national call for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission.Is Dr Nujoma still running the affairs of this country or has he something to hide? If not, in which capacity did he reject the said call? Is there any difference between Kaura, Ulenga and Nujoma? I think all three of them are merely party leaders.There is no one in Swapo who can prove me wrong on this.The fact remains they know everything and even more about all these corrupt practices, unless they are ignoring the facts.Therefore, if we have laws that guide us in this country, let it be seen! Political leaders must differentiate between State activities and party-political activities in this country.Corruption must stop now! N.Nakandunga, NamibiaThis is a commendable call, if it is going to be taken seriously by the party’s rank and file.It is the ruling party that must lead by example, especially when it comes to “delivering quality public services to all our people”.All these impressive statements go hand in hand with practice to prevent them from being lip service.At the same time, what came to my mind is the function of the Swapo Party braai to raise funds for the construction of a new party headquarters, which is planned to be built in Katutura at a cost of N$149 million.I have witnessed a number of Government vehicles that were (ab)used for the party’s transportation activities.I was surprised to find more than 50 State vehicles were used to attend the Swapo Party braai.If that is the tradition, why are other political parties not given such opportunities? I also concur with those civil society organisations that have called on the Government to release the State-owned helicopter, which was used by the former president to carry out the Sam Nujoma Foundation’s activities, to be utilised for other stakeholders’ activities as well.One wonders why the Minister of Works, Transport and Communication only issued a bill to Swapo after the public outcry.The other shocking “visual art” is the photo of the former president on the wall of the Swapo Headquarters’ reception area that reads: “CDE Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, President of Swapo and President of the Republic of Namibia”.The question will be, who is in charge of this country? Is it Pohamba or Nujoma, or both, or are we waiting for the unknown in this country? If an ordinary person declared him or herself to be a “President of Namibia”, would this not be regarded as high treason or other conspiracy charges that could be laid against such person? Why is Nujoma allowed to do it while he personally knows that he is no longer a President of Namibia? Shame! In addition to the above, it is audacious of Dr Nujoma, in his capacity as the leader of the ruling party, to reject a national call for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission.Is Dr Nujoma still running the affairs of this country or has he something to hide? If not, in which capacity did he reject the said call? Is there any difference between Kaura, Ulenga and Nujoma? I think all three of them are merely party leaders.There is no one in Swapo who can prove me wrong on this.The fact remains they know everything and even more about all these corrupt practices, unless they are ignoring the facts.Therefore, if we have laws that guide us in this country, let it be seen! Political leaders must differentiate between State activities and party-political activities in this country.Corruption must stop now! N.Nakandunga, Namibia