By Surihe Gaomas
WINDHOEK
The President of the Republican Party (RP), Henk Mudge, says the SWAPO Party must show the bill of expenses incurred by President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Founding Father of the Nation, Dr Sam Nujoma, when they held two star rallies at Nkurenkuru during the run-up to the Local Authority elections there.
Mudge wants to know why there was a need for two presidents to attend separate star rallies leading up to an election at a small town like Nkurenkuru.
“They (SWAPO) must provide us with the invoices for the transport and army trucks that were brought in for these star rallies. I understand the motorcade was 85 vehicles and three army trucks to beef up their campaign in Nkurenkuru.
“If you use government assets, then you must pay for it. I want the invoices as proof, because even we, as a party, pay for every litre and every cent even though we get a much smaller budget than the ruling party,” he added.
The RP leader pointed out that although the election was free and fair, the playing field showed a different picture.
“It’s a pity our people at Nkurenkuru were intimidated by the numbers as SWAPO came in their hundreds and confused them totally with the sounds of the Ndilimani band. Why all that action for a local authority election? – something is wrong somewhere, and the playing field must become more levelled,” said Mudge.
He added that there was no need for the Head of State to come earlier to assess the sewerage situation as this could be handled by the responsible ministries of Regional, Local Government, Housing and Rural Development and that of Works, Transport and Communication.
Mudge described the one seat RP secured in the new town council as a major breakthrough.
“The fact that we only got one seat in a SWAPO stronghold says something. I think it is significant, but we had hoped for at least three seats. We can train our candidate properly to play a positive role in development,” said Mudge.
According to the RP, this means uplifting people at grassroots level.
“Grassroots level issues are very important to this party,” he said.
Although not surprised that the RP was the only one to win a seat among other opposition parties like CoD, DTA and NUDO on the basis of surplus votes, Mudge felt extremely proud of the party’s outcome.
“Registration of voters was done very late; it should have been done much earlier. It is very unfortunate that of the 1??????’??