By Emma Kakololo
WINDHOEK
No political party could ever become as strong as the Swapo Party, former party president, Dr Sam Nujoma, said.
“Swapo is a mass movement. It started right from sections, branches, districts and regions. So a solid party like that, deep-rooted in the masses of the people will always emerge victorious and we are strong,” said Nujoma in an interview recently.
“I don’t think there will be any party in this country that will be able to emerge as a strong party.
“They emerge as small parties, while some of them are collapsing in the process,” he said in response to the newly founded Party, Rally for Democracy and Progress’s desire to dent Swapo’s powerbase.
Nujoma, who has been the Swapo Party President since its founding in 1960 until recently, did not stand for re-election at its just-ended congress paving the way for the party’s vice-president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, the Head of State since 2005, to take over.
Nujoma, who had backing of most regions to retain the position of party president, said he “left” the party as president, in a much stronger position. He remains a member of Swapo.
“Swapo that emerged from the just-ended congress is so strong. But, you could see the leadership is very solid. There were people who were saying that some people were going to walk out of the congress, but this never happened.”
The high turnout of the youth at Saturday’s rally, he said, was also evidence of their assurance of a guaranteed future with Swapo.
“In Swapo we say a united people striving to achieve common good for all ladders of society will always emerge victorious. But those who are pursuing regionalism, tribalism and individualism will collapse.”
Nujoma also dismissed the school of thought that the party was not democratic.
“We fought against these vices during the occupation of our country by the Apartheid regime. Note that the Apartheid regime was promoting tribalism, separate development, racism in order to weaken our position. But, because Swapo has united the Namibian people irrespective of their colour, race or status in the society today we emerged victorious.”
“It is the Swapo Party that brought about democracy in Namibia. There was no democracy here.”