Katima Mulilo – Swapo presidential candidate Dr Hage Geingob has poked fun at DTA rival McHenry Venaani’s recent travelling in a donkey cart in Kunene, saying the youthful opposition candidate cannot pretend to be poor while there is evidence of money in his family.
“We have seen some of the cheap tricks, coming in a donkey cart to fool people when we saw the bonnet of his brother’s car,” Geingob said, in an apparent reference to media reports regarding the businesses of Collin Venaani, McHenry’s younger brother.
“In Swapo we say backward never and forward ever,” said an ecstatic Geingob while addressing thousands of animated supporters at Katima Mulilo on Saturday.
Scores of people filled up the Katima Mulilo sports complex to the rafters with three other tents that were spread across the sports field to accommodate more members and supporters who kept coming in to listen to the promises of the ruling party.
Even the four traditional authorities in the region were represented by their Ngambelas. Ngambelas is a term used in the Zambezi Region to describe a person second in command after the traditional chief.
“Look at the attendance. Some people want to rule the country but yet they can’t even fill up a hall. Those are the type of people competing against me. In Rundu, Walvis Bay, Omuthiya and now here and its packed. Our manifesto is what we are selling to you. When you buy into it, you’re convinced of what Swapo can do for you and then you vote for us. Swapo is not dreaming about what it can do,” said an enthusiastic Geingob.
The meeting began with a moment of silence to pay tribute to the recent passing of Swapo stalwarts and national heroes among them Aaron Mushimba and Mzee Kaukungwa. Zambian President Michael Sata was also remembered.
Geingob noted that Swapo remained committed to the aspirations of the people as it has continuously fulfilled on its promises. “On the 21st of March Swapo delivered. It brought independence. It fulfilled its promise. Swapo said there will be peace in the country; today we have no more Koevoet harassing people. Swapo removed them. Here we are free people moving around speaking freely. We have the free press,” said Geingob.
Geingob further stated that Swapo has also maintained a democratic transition of power adding that through that process the party has remained intact and united. “The Founding President, Sam Nujoma, delivered and after 15 years decided to leave office. He could have opted to stay but he didn’t, and then came Pohamba. He is about to finish his term now. We had a congress and through a democratic process, here I am. After the victory, the leader who emerges must unite the party. If you don’t manage change, the change can wipe you.”
According to Geingob the Swapo-led government has embarked on the second phase of the struggle he referred to as economic emancipation and that despite creating an enabling environment for business to flourish the government has continued to concentrate on the needy. “The second phase of the struggle is economic emancipation. We have provided a conducive environment for business people. Government must concentrate on those that are needy, those still with no access to basic services. We may even create a ministry solely responsible for poverty alleviation”, said Geingob.