Union badmouths new political party

THE blind personal political ambitions of people who could not accept defeat at the 2004 Swapo extraordinary congress led to the formation of the Rally for Democracy and Progress, the National Union of Namibian Workers said on Saturday.

NUNW President Alpheus Muheua said people like Hidipo Hamutenya and Jesaya Nyamu have finally showed their true colours with the formation of the new party. “Bad leaders have the common habit of not accepting defeat.They consider their personal ambitions over and above the people’s aspirations,” Muheua told a gathering of NUNW National Executive Committee members.They were on a two-day retreat in Windhoek.He said the NUNW would remain in Swapo and would ensure that it helped the ruling party maintain peace and stability in the country.Incidentally, some of the people who left the ruling party to join RDP claim that it was because people like Muheua and NUNW Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda were forced on them.The biggest casualties were former NUNW President Risto Kapenda and Secretary General Peter Naholo.Naholo has since joined the new party while Kapenda has not said a word about RDP.Muheua said their members were free to join RDP or any other political party but “if a decision is taken at (Swapo) head office, we are part of that” – meaning that any member of another party will have to live with Swapo decisions as long as they remain in NUNW.Muheua said Namibia was at a crucial juncture and challenges were mounting daily.”It is expected from us to meet them head on.We don’t want to be limited to bread and butter issues.The struggle should be extended because workers are an integral part of the social and political fabric of Namibia,” he said.”Bad leaders have the common habit of not accepting defeat.They consider their personal ambitions over and above the people’s aspirations,” Muheua told a gathering of NUNW National Executive Committee members.They were on a two-day retreat in Windhoek.He said the NUNW would remain in Swapo and would ensure that it helped the ruling party maintain peace and stability in the country.Incidentally, some of the people who left the ruling party to join RDP claim that it was because people like Muheua and NUNW Secretary General Evilastus Kaaronda were forced on them.The biggest casualties were former NUNW President Risto Kapenda and Secretary General Peter Naholo.Naholo has since joined the new party while Kapenda has not said a word about RDP.Muheua said their members were free to join RDP or any other political party but “if a decision is taken at (Swapo) head office, we are part of that” – meaning that any member of another party will have to live with Swapo decisions as long as they remain in NUNW.Muheua said Namibia was at a crucial juncture and challenges were mounting daily.”It is expected from us to meet them head on.We don’t want to be limited to bread and butter issues.The struggle should be extended because workers are an integral part of the social and political fabric of Namibia,” he said.