OSHAKATI – Oshakati Independence Stadium, the most prominent sports arena in the north, was packed with thousands of Swapo supporters arriving in convoys of trucks, buses, other vehicles, bicycles and on foot.
Traffic was so congested that at times vehicles stood idling for prolonged periods on the road between the towns of Ondangwa, Ongwediva and Oshakati.
Over 15 000 people from all over the country filled the two pavilions as well as five tents erected on the stadium grounds to listen to President Hifikepunye Pohamba delivering the keynote address.
Pohamba said the Swapo Party led government is a tested and experienced administration in terms of governance and service delivery to the nation.
At least 18 people who previously left Swapo to join the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), Congress of Democrats (CoD) and the newly established Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) re-joined Swapo and received membership cards at the rally.
Pohamba highlighted a number of projects and initiatives achieved over the past 24 years of independence, including the era of his administration as the country’s and Swapo president.
“With regard to physical and communication infrastructure, many projects have been completed around the country. We have built telecommunication networks, roads, bridges, railways, airports and harbours,” he said.
Extensive investments have also been made in the health sector since 1990, with hospitals, health centres and clinics constructed and upgraded. Oshana Region alone now has 15 government health facilities, including Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, four health centres and 10 clinics.
The education sector, housing and sanitation, social grants, agriculture and food production, economic growth, infrastructural development including roads, law and order and national reconciliation, are among what the Swapo Party led government has achieved over the past 24 years.
“Other priorities on our agenda are access to land, acceleration of rural development and supporting our local authorities to build the needed infrastructure and thereby improve service delivery to residents,” said Pohamba.
During the event, Pohamba also introduced and asked Swapo Party supporters who are eligible to vote to go and vote for Dr Hage Geingob, the current vice-president of Swapo and the party’s presidential candidate.
“Hage Geingob is the person that Swapo Party wants to replace me with as the president and he is the person I prefer to be the next president of this country. It will be good to have him as a president in order for us to have continuity. Give him a resounding vote, for the best future of this country. Once we vote for Swapo we would have elected the comrades who were drawn from Swapo’s electoral college. When you vote for Swapo Party, you vote for peace, stability and prosperity,” said Pohamba.
By Helvy Shaanika