UDF vows to ‘fight for’ Kunene

SWAPO will face the fight of their life if they want to wrestle the Kunene Region away from the United Democratic Front, the latter vowed on Sunday.

UDF president Justus //Garoëb said Kunene was the only region were the opposition was ruling at regional level and Swapo did not like that.The ruling party has made it its priority to defeat UDF in that part of the country and several top leaders of Swapo have visited the region to campaign.’We will go an extra mile to protect Kunene. If Swapo want to take Kunene, no money or even State platform will take it away from the UDF. I will walk an extra mile to protect our property,’ said //Garoëb.He said the UDF was ‘more than ready’ for the upcoming elections even though they were a little pressed financially.During the last National Budget political parties got around N$17 million through State funding, of which 65 per cent went to Swapo because of its high representation in the National Assembly.’Only 35 per cent went to the various opposition parties. I was not good in maths at school but there’s almost nothing in the kitty for UDF. I think we get less than N$1 million. We can’t even buy a car to travel to the regions,’ he said.However, //Garoëb said lack of money will not hinder their campaign.’We are ready to face every party. We will give others (opposition parties) a run for their money. I’m so excited about the upcoming elections. We have waited for too long,’ the UDF leader said.He said UDF would no longer be seen as a ‘small party’ after the November elections.’It’s their right to believe that UDF is a small party but we are the only party, next to Swapo, to govern a region. Others did not even get a smell of their own region. UDF have a substantive number of regional and local councillors and is second only to Swapo. After the next elections, there will be a complete change in how people see UDF,’ //Garoëb said.UDF vice president Simpson Tjongarero claimed Swapo had sleepless nights because of the Kunene Region, which is governed by his party.’They will never rest without victory and the man who caused the damage is none other than our own president //Garoëb,’ he said to huge applause.The secretary general of the women’s league, Dorca Shikongo, called on the UDF to go on a door-to-door campaign and ‘to bring back women where they belong – UDF’.’Women, don’t waste your votes. There is no way you can shy away from UDF. We have true 50/50 representation,’ she said.The meeting was marked by shouts of ‘ons vat’ (we take) and ‘aluta continua’ as speakers took turns to address the gathering.christof@namibian.com.na