Swapo never called Itula an imperialist– Herunga

SWAPO deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga says Swapo has never labelled Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) president Panduleni Itula an agent of imperialism.

He was responding to allegations levelled against Swapo by Itula at IPC rallies at Ondangwa and Oshakati over the weekend.

Speaking at his party’s election campaign at Oshakati on Saturday, Itula accused Swapo of referring to the IPC as a party being led by imperialist agents because he studied in the United Kingdom (UK).

Itula did not answer questions to him about who exactly in Swapo has referred to the IPC as an imperialist led party.

“I don’t remember any top Swapo leader referring to IPC or its leaders as imperialists. I am also not aware of any Swapo members or supporters who referred to them as such. If there is anyone who said so, he or she might have said so in his or her personal capacity,” Herunga said.

He added that Swapo wants to run clean and peaceful campaigns without attacking or labelling anyone, because all the political players are Namibians.

On Saturday, Itula said Swapo leaders opened the door for those who studied in the UK and United States (US).
“They are just as well imperialistic indoctrinated as they say,” Itula said.

“Show me one single leader in that party who did not get a Western education,” Itula said.

He said the late president Hage Geingob and current president Nangolo Mbumba both studied in the US.

Chief justice Peter Shivute, judge president Petrus Damaseb, the speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, and home affairs, immigration, safety and security minister Albert Kawana all studied in the UK, he said.

Itula added that he was the leader of Swapo students in the UK from 1981 until 1988.

“I know them all. They all studied in imperialist countries. Why are they not imperialists? Ask yourself, they hate the Americans, but who gave permission for the biggest embassy to be built in Namibia? Is it not the Swapo government?”