LÜDERITZ – The Swapo Party secretary general, Nangolo Mbumba, says it is clear from the rallies drumming up support for its presidential candidate Dr Hage Geingob that Namibians are “ready” for Geingob.
He made the remarks at a rally held on Sunday at Lüderitz, stressing that well-attended rallies are indicative of the fact that Namibians are getting ready for a Geingob presidency starting from 2015.
Mbumba implored registered voters to continue voting for Swapo as “it is the only party that liberated Namibia from colonialism and oppression”.
“Namibia is free, politicians are free as well as other individuals and people are no more afraid to be imprisoned because of their political views and opinions about politics, and let us respect those people who sacrificed their lives to liberate this country,” stressed the Swapo secretary general.
He used the opportunity to heap praise on the Founding Father Dr Sam Nujoma, the incumbent President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, Nathaniel Maxuilili and many others for the crucial role they played in the liberation struggle.
He said the Nujomas, Pohambas, Ya Toivos, Maxuililis and other heroes accomplished their mission of bringing about independence.
Mbumba urged residents of Lüderitz to flock to polling stations en-masse on November 28 to vote for Swapo and to ensure they press the right button when they vote using the new EVMs.
Mbumba emphasized that the Swapo-led government abolished Bantustans – that were so-called homelands which were in essence territories set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and Namibia, as part of the policy of apartheid. The purpose of Bantustans was to concentrate members of specific designated ethnic groups in one area purportedly to give them autonomy.
Mbumba said apart from the abolition of Bantustans, schools have been expanded and children from diverse ethnic groups now go to the school of their choice getting the same level of education.
He said people from different ethnic groups now freely mingle with others without being segregated and they can also go to hospitals of their choice. On the issue of development projects, he said the Swapo-led government also established many tarred roads.
“Currently, the Swapo Party government is ready to expand the harbour of Lüderitz, to make it deeper and bigger, to accommodate more and much bigger vessels,” he told the rally.
“Namibia is free and everybody has the right to buy a house or a farm of his or her choice, and we should always maintain the peace, as peace is better than war. All this has changed because of Swapo, which liberated this country,” he said.
Mbumba encouraged Swapo members to go and vote for Swapo, in order for the party to win all 96 seats for the National Assembly. “There is no mercy for other parties, we must grab all 96 seat for the National Assembly,” Mbumba stated.
“How can you expect your party to win if your party is not having the majority support like Swapo, when your party did not liberate this country like Swapo?”
Local artists as well as the Ndilimani Cultural Troupe entertained the well-attended rally.
Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana the Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration and chairperson of the national leaders assigned to //Karas Region, the Swapo Regional Coordinator for //Karas, Mathew Mumbala, and //Karas Regional Governor Bernardus Swartbooi, were also in attendance.