Violence mounts in North

THE Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) yesterday warned that provocation and intimidation of RDP sympathisers and supporters in the North by Swapo Party members could explode into violence.

The warning comes as the number of cases of intimidation mount ahead of elections at the newly proclaimed town of Omuthiya on Friday. In a statement, the RDP also said that “both the Head of State [President Hifikepunye Pohamba] and the Minister of Justice [Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana] are deadly silent on the provocation and intimidation that may lead to violence, threatening our much-cherished peace and stability”.In the latest string of incidents: ** Two RDP members were stabbed, allegedly by Swapo supporters, at Okongo over the weekend, while the vehicle of another was stoned and a reporter was accused of being a “Nyamu dog”(*).** Two women, Liina ya Shikesho (43) and Paulina Ndeutema Nathaniel (33), were assaulted – allegedly by Swapo supporters – who kicked them, grabbed them and dragged them away because they were wearing RDP T-shirts.The incident occurred on Saturday at a village east of Eenhana after a Swapo rally at a nearby village.The aggressors also allegedly hurled vulgar remarks at both Shikesho and Nathaniel.** Police arrested a man at Indongo ya Keelu village, south of the town, while an RDP rally was taking place at Omuthiya on Sunday.The drastic Police action came after the man allegedly provoked RDP members by violently circling his car, decorated in Swapo colours, around the RDP group near the main road.** An eyewitness told The Namibian that an RDP member, who wanted his car tyres pumped at a small repair shop along the main road at Omuthiya after the RDP rally, was denied service by the shop “because he was RDP”.** On Sunday evening, Swapo supporters chanting inflammatory slogans arrived at the Guava Flats at Ongwediva, where an RDP branch office is situated, and tried to forcibly enter the office by kicking in the doors.According to human rights monitors, the target of this provocation was Epafras Penda Nangolo, the owner of the building.The mob threatened to close down Nangolo’s business by closing its doors and intimidating residents into boycotting his business.They only left the premises after Police intervened.** A group of Swapo supporters allegedly blocked the movements of RDP supporters on the road between Oshivelo and Omuthiya when they returned from the RDP rally at Omuthiya on Sunday.The Swapo group came from a nearby shebeen, which allegedly belongs to Oshikoto Regional Governor Penda ya Ndakolo, at Omutsegwonime village, 30 kilometres east of Omuthiya.** Police had to disperse about 100 Swapo supporters in front of the house of former NUNW Secretary General Peter Naholo near Omulondo, east of Eenhana, at noon on Saturday.The group tried to enter Naholo’s house but Police prevented them from doing so.Naholo and his brother resigned from Swapo and joined RDP towards the end of last year.In its statement, the RDP said the actions of Swapo supporters against anyone linked to the oppositio** party were a clear sign that the ruling party “neither understands nor accepts genuine competitive politics”.The RDP charged that Swapo was “unable to accept competition in politics after having enjoyed an unchallenged monopoly for 18 years”.It also pointed to comments made at a Swapo rally at Omuthiya on Saturday.At the meeting, Swapo leaders called for a boycott against shops owned by RDP members, and said RDP supporters should not be give** water or awarded works tenders.President Pohamba and Attorney General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana were both present at the event.The RDP described the remarks as “highly irresponsible and treasonous”, saying such comments amounted to economic sabotage and were also a “blatant infringement of basic human rights”.In the face of silence from the President and the Attorney General, the RDP statement said, “We …conclude that the Head of State and the Justice Minister approve these outrageous incitements.We call on Swapo leaders to act responsibly and rein in their members.”Approached for comment yesterday, Swapo Secretary General Iivula-Ithana said if she did comment, this would be misinterpreted by this reporter.”Honestly, regardless of what I will say on this topic, I know you will write it differently as you will have another opinion, so why should I waste my time giving a comment?” Iivula-Iithana said.(*) Jesaya Nyamu is the interim RDP Secretary General and a former Trade and Industry Minister.In a statement, the RDP also said that “both the Head of State [President Hifikepunye Pohamba] and the Minister of Justice [Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana] are deadly silent on the provocation and intimidation that may lead to violence, threatening our much-cherished peace and stability”.In the latest string of incidents: ** Two RDP members were stabbed, allegedly by Swapo supporters, at Okongo over the weekend, while the vehicle of another was stoned and a reporter was accused of being a “Nyamu dog”(*).** Two women, Liina ya Shikesho (43) and Paulina Ndeutema Nathaniel (33), were assaulted – allegedly by Swapo supporters – who kicked them, grabbed them and dragged them away because they were wearing RDP T-shirts.The incident occurred on Saturday at a village east of Eenhana after a Swapo rally at a nearby village.The aggressors also allegedly hurled vulgar remarks at both Shikesho and Nathaniel. ** Police arrested a man at Indongo ya Keelu village, south of the town, while an RDP rally was taking place at Omuthiya on Sunday.The drastic Police action came after the man allegedly provoked RDP members by violently circling his car, decorated in Swapo colours, around the RDP group near the main road.** An eyewitness told The Namibian that an RDP member, who wanted his car tyres pumped at a small repair shop along the main road at Omuthiya after the RDP rally, was denied service by the shop “because he was RDP”.** On Sunday evening, Swapo supporters chanting inflammatory slogans arrived at the Guava Flats at Ongwediva, where an RDP branch office is situated, and tried to forcibly enter the office by kicking in the doors.According to human rights monitors, the target of this provocation was Epafras Penda Nangolo, the owner of the building.The mob threatened to close down Nangolo’s business by closing its doors and intimidating residents into boycotting his business.They only left the premises after Police intervened.** A group of Swapo supporters allegedly blocked the movements of RDP supporters on the road between Oshivelo and Omuthiya when they returned from the RDP rally at Omuthiya on Sunday.The Swapo group came from a nearby shebeen, which allegedly belongs to Oshikoto Regional Governor Penda ya Ndakolo, at Omutsegwonime village, 30 kilometres east of Omuthiya.** Police had to disperse about 100 Swapo supporters in front of the house of former NUNW Secretary General Peter Naholo near Omulondo, east of Eenhana, at noon on Saturday.The group tried to enter Naholo’s house but Police prevented them from doing so.Naholo and his brother resigned from Swapo and joined RDP towards the end of last year.In its statement, the RDP said the actions of Swapo supporters against anyone linked to the oppositio** party were a clear sign that the ruling party “neither understands nor accepts genuine competitive politics”.The RDP charged that Swapo was “unable to accept competition in politics after having enjoyed an unchallenged monopoly for 18 years”.It also pointed to comments made at a Swapo rally at Omuthiya on Saturday.At the meeting, Swapo leaders called for a boycott against shops owned by RDP members, and said RDP supporters should not be give** water or awarded works tenders.President Pohamba and Attorney General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana were both present at the event.The RDP described the remarks as “highly irresponsible and treasonous”, saying such comments amounted to economic sabotage and were also a “blatant infringement of basic human rights”.In the face of silence from the President and the Attorney General, the RDP statement said, “We …conclude that the Head of State and the Justice Minister approve these outrageous incitements.We call on Swapo leaders to act responsibly and rein in their members.”Approached for comment yesterday, Swapo Secretary General Iivula-Ithana said if she did comment, this would be misinterpreted by this reporter.”Honestly, regardless of what I will say on this topic, I know you will write it differently as you will have another opinion, so why should I waste my time giving a comment?” Iivula-Iithana said.(*) Jesaya Nyamu is the interim RDP Secretary General and a former Trade and Industry Minister.