ONGWEDIVA – The All People’s Party (APP) says this year’s election campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections are much more peaceful than before.
The APP says unlike previous election campaigns that were characterized by beatings and confrontations especially in “no-go areas” in the north, the campaigns this year are peaceful.
This could in part be attributed to President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s repeated appeals to Swapo members to desist from any political violence and to use persuation.
APP Vice-President Madala Nauyoma said Namibians have demonstrated a good level of political and democratic understanding.
“Society is gaining momentum, previously people would disassociate themselves from people of other political parties, but it is different these days; people are socializing and they have no problem to be given a lift in a car that is flagged with an opposition party’s colours,” said Nauyoma jokingly.
APP which recently held a rally at Omashaka settlement in Ondangwa asserted it is gaining momentum and is optimistic their votes will be different this year if the elections are transparent.
In addition, APP has also prioritized the needs of pensioners and people who are living in poverty.
In its 2014 election manifesto, APP proposed to boost the pension grant to N$2 000, and the orphan grant to N$650 with a proposed grant of N$4 500 for poverty-stricken households.
One of their immense concerns is to address the housing problem exacerbated by high prices.
Nauyoma said APP has proposed to do away with the “shacks” mushrooming across the country.
“The idea was to explain the manifesto to supporters, what APP stands for and what we can do for Namibian people in the next five years,” said the APP vice-president.
The party has also proposed to build affordable standard houses for the targeted community – the poverty-stricken – should it be elected into power.
Nauyoma said the mass housing project, “which was initially our idea though it is now being wrongly implemented”, will not meet the needs of its intended recipients.
“The current houses under the mass housing scheme are too expensive and we need to build standard houses,” said Nauyoma.
He urged Namibians who are going around saying that they would not vote to go to the polls and vote for parties that would rescue them from their misery, adding that sitting idle would not change anything.
“Those who are already in the system are going to vote and they will continue to benefit,” advised Nauyoma.