OKASHANA – The Swapo Party regional coordinator in the Oshikoto Region, Armas Amukwiyu says hate speech expressed by some party members targeting supporters of those presidential candidates who were not victorious during the 5th Swapo Party Ordinary Congress held in December last year is divisive.
Amukwiyu expressed shock over the sudden attack on some businessmen by a member of the party at a gala dinner attended by business people and members of the Oshikoto regional leadership at Omuthiya recently. “The person (name withheld) reportedly claimed that the very same people who did not support Dr. Hage Geingob’s campaign for the vice presidency, are the very same business people who pretended to owe total allegiance to Geingob.” Amukwiyu did not mince his words describing such attitudes as counter-productive and an insult to the vice president, who has been described by the rank and file of the party as the unifier in the ruling party. “Swapo Party operates on a set of rules that promote democracy in all its activities and name-calling will not be tolerated in my region.
The congress is long gone and members accusing others for supporting candidate A or B ten months after the conclusion of that election are saboteurs, it is pure rubbish and an act of disrespect towards the rights of other people. I was shocked when the comrade requested the floor and started labeling others for not campaigning for Dr. Geingob yet claiming to be supporting him. What is wrong with people supporting their man either before or after his victory,” Amukwiyu asked. He urged ruling party members to concentrate on current affairs within the party, since wheels are being oiled to roll out the 2014 elections campaign. He said the vice president will without any doubt become the president of the Swapo Party and that of the Republic of Namibia and has always respected democratic outcomes during previous and recent elections aimed at strengthening democratic principles within the ruling party structures. “It is an insult to use the name of the vice president to belittle others and to throw jargon on fellow party members.
Dr. Geingob will never allow such acts of intimidation towards others simply because he or she was seen to have campaigned for him. On top of that, he enjoys a cordial relationship with senior cadres who also vied for the vice presidency, therefore who are we to apply divide and rule tactics at a time when we need each other more than ever before as we face a collective challenge of defeating the enemy together,” he said. Meanwhile, the Oshikoto coordinator revealed the Omuthiya district office raised over N$200 000 at a fundraising event organized at Okashana two weeks ago. He said the funds would be used to cover expenses related to party activities and programmes that are being rolled out currently and next year as part of the preparations for the national elections next year. Amukwiyu thanked individuals and business people who contributed to the success of the party initiative. Oshikoto Governor Penda Ya Ndakolo as well as his Oshana counterpart Clemence Kashuupulwa also attended the fundraising event.