RUNDU – The country’s former official opposition party the DTA says it will this year defeat the ruling party during the general elections by capturing all “frustrated” Swapo members.
The party’s Secretary General, Vincent Kanyetu, revealed the ambitious plan during a joint meeting with the party’s interim committee members from the two Kavango regions held in Rundu on Sunday afternoon. Kanyetu also revealed that the two regions were given until end of March to hold their regional conferences to fill all the regional structures.
“This government has run out of ideas. This time around we are going for Swapo members, especially the frustrated ones. The challenges the DTA faced are now over, this thing of losing members to other parties has come to an end,” said Kanyetu.
He reminded members that “2014 is a crucial year for the DTA”.
“As DTA we must make sure that frustrated Swapo members are encouraged to register and then we must mobilize them to vote for us,” he said.
He lamented the fact that 23 years after independence starvation and unemployment continue to plague the country. “The two Kavango regions are supposed to be the country’s breadbasket with its fertile soil but it is not the case. Our young girls from Rundu are forced by poverty to cross the Kavango River on a daily basis into Angola for prostitution purposes,” charged Kanyetu.
Namibians must wake up and make radical voting changes, said Kanyetu. Although he did not disclose the exact number of registered members the party currently has, Kanyetu said his party is growing on a daily basis since new members continue to join.
The party’s membership is said to have diminished drastically during its former president Katuutire Kaura’s 15-year administration.
Kanyetu urged all Namibians to register during the upcoming general voter registration.
Unlike other parties where party members normally boldly wear their party colours, Kanyetu did not take lightly the fact that none of those in attendance, apart from the party’s two regional coordinators for Kavango East and West, wore any attire depicting their political affiliation.
“We must wear our party colours whenever we attend party meetings. This is the only way to show loyalty and respect towards the party,” he said.
Should DTA be elected to power, Kanyetu vowed that his party would include each and every Namibian when it comes to development. “This is not a political statement, we will make sure that the locals are part of development,” he said.
By Mathias Haufiku