By Helvy Shaanika
ONGWEDIVA – President Hifikepunye Pohamba has called upon the residents of Ohangwena Constituency to ensure that political campaigns for the upcoming by-election are conducted peacefully.
The by-election is set for 5 August.
While addressing the Swapo Party rally at Helao Nafidi last Saturday, Pohamba urged residents to refrain from indulging in violent activities during campaigning.
The scheduled by-election follows the death of the constituency councillor Maria Kombwana in May.
“I urge all our members, supporters and sympathizers, and indeed all the different political groupings participating in the campaigns, to exercise restraint at all times. There should be no instigation towards violence. There should be no intimidation.
“We must maintain the peace, unity and harmony that the Swapo Party has brought to our country and which we have been enjoying since the attainment of our national independence in 1990,” said the president.
Pohamba further urged the community to render full co-operation to the police and other law enforcement agencies, as well as officials of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, during the election.
He also praised Namibia’s law enforcement agencies for maintaining law and order in the country. He thus urged them to continue working with dedication and commitment.
During the event, the president introduced to the public Johannes Kornelius Hakanyome as the Swapo Party candidate for the by-election.
“I am here to urge you to vote for Cde Johannes Hakanyome for continuity and accelerated service delivery to our people. Cde Hakanyome will build on the strong foundation that the Swapo Party and the late Cde Kombwana have already established in the areas of governance, service delivery, in the development of infrastructure and the broadening of socio-economic benefits to our people.
“I implore you to give him the mandate to continue with the development programmes that have been initiated over the years in this constituency and the Ohangwena Region as a whole,” said Pohamba.