WINDHOEK – The Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) surprised all and sundry when it received 13 328 votes, qualifying it for two parliamentary seats.
WRP did this despite being fairly inactive during the political campaigns prior to the 2014 elections.
The ECN on Monday announced the party won two seats in the National Assembly, which it will be taking up next year.
The leader of the WRP, Hewart Beukes, in an interview with New Era on Tuesday said WRP canvassed its votes mainly from former South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) members, the Southern People’s Allegiance, former Tsumeb Corporation Limited (TCL) workers, fuel workers, the homeless in Windhoek, seafarers and “the old real members of Swapo”.
“The reason why we won like this is because we were involved everyday with the struggles of our people. We are an organised party, we are a mass party. We have organisations in each and every locality in this country. We understand their struggles,” Beukes said.
Meanwhile, one of two members of the WRP who is assigned to represent the party in parliament next year, Salmon Fleermuys, commented: “We had huge support of our colleagues the former SWATF and Koevoet. The RDP lost votes to the WRP in Okongo.”
Asked how WRP managed to canvas votes from the RDP stronghold, Beukes said: “No, we did not beat RDP. RDP was robbed by the Indian programmers. Swapo made the programmes so that RDP can be beaten and the reason they did it is because the police and army are loyal to Hidipo,” Beukes said in reference to the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Beukes said the WRP has for the past 24 years fought for the rights of people in Namibia and in parliament. The party will advocate for the rights of former SWATF and Koevoet members.
“There was false conscription, these people were part of the working class and they were forced into the army. When the army was disbanded they became part of the working class and we are standing beside them,” Beukes said.
Fleermuys says government has denied former SWATF and Koevoet their rights as citizens.
“If there are any war veterans then we are war veterans because we and PLAN fighters were fighting each other. We joined the Workers Revolutionary Party in order to do what we have to confront the high brows leading the country in parliament without any fear. It is not the Swapo government that maintained peace and stability in this country, it is SWATF and Koevoet who maintained peace and stability,” he said.
Furthermore Beukes said: “We are going to address all these issues of pension fund theft, corruption in the courts and everything that affects the lives of Namibians.”
Fleermuys and former SWATF soldier, Benson Poniso Kaapala, will represent the party in parliament next year, revealed Beukes.
By Alvine Kapitako