Teachers instigated by opposition – Ekandjo

JERRY Ekandjo, one of the three Swapo candidates in line to take over from President Hifikepunye Pohamba, says the current teachers’ strike was instigated by opposition political parties.

Ekandjo, also the party’s secretary for information and the Minister of Local Government, told a gathering at Eenhana on Saturday that after the opposition parties lost out on the election challenge, they decided to instigate the teachers to bring about chaos in Namibia and in the Swapo-led government.Referring to the Rally for Democracy and Progress as ‘Radopa’, an Oshiwambo word meaning ‘failure’, Ekandjo said ‘Radopa (RDP) and its friends completely failed in the court case and will remain failures until they die a natural death’.He was accompanied to the meeting by Health Minister Richard Kamwi, Deputy Minister of Defence Lempy Lucas, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Elia Kaiyamo, Ohangwena Governor Usko Nghaamwa and some Ohangwena regional and local councillors.Before the meeting Ekandjo officially opened the Ongenga Constituency Office where he was met by the Ongenga Constituency councillor Leonard Shimutwikeni, the Queen of Oukwanyama, Martha Mwadinomho Nelumbu, and some traditional councillors.At the rally Ekandjo called on Swapo leaders, members and supporters to remain united as they were during the liberation struggle.Even though it was supposed to be his campaign rally Ekandjo did not mention anything about the nomination race against Swapo vice president Hage Geingob and secretary general Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana. Instead, he spent most of his time talking about the party’s history and singing liberation songs.’Let us love each other and respect each other. United we must strive for one goal and that is to develop Namibia at all levels,’ Ekandjo said.He also warned against tribalism, saying it will take Namibia nowhere.According to him, the reason for the poor performance of the opposition parties in Namibia, such as RDP, Nudo, DTA of Namibia and the Congress of Democrats, is because of tribalism within their structures at grassroots level.

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