ONGWEDIVA – Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga has called on opposition parties to accept defeat instead of crying foul over the election outcome.
He said the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly elections were free and fair, and a reflection of the wishes and aspirations of Namibian voters.
“Every election, the opposition parties cry for not winning. They deserve not to win,” he said.
When the results were announced on Tuesday evening, Swapo had garnered only 51 seats in the National Assembly poll, a significant drop of 12 seats from the 63 seats in 2019.
Meanwhile, newcomers Independent Patriots for Change secured 20 seats. Furthermore, the Landless People’s Movement grew from four to five seats in this election.
Meanwhile, the Affirmative Repositioning obtained six seats, while the Popular Democratic Movement nosedived from 16 to five seats. “You can’t just complain about unnecessary things. Nothing was done behind closed doors,” said Herunga. It is further his fervent position that Swapo has won every election since independence, fair and square. “Swapo is not a small party like those opposition parties that just came yesterday,” he boasted.
He added that Swapo’s victories over the years can only be attributed to its capable leadership and track record.
“Swapo lost Walvis Bay and other towns, but we didn’t cry. We just accepted the results,” he stated. Herunga urged opposition parties to learn to accept defeat, as “they deserve it”.
“Let peace continue in our country. Namibia is a peaceful country,” the former Cabinet minister said before moving to tackle dirty campaign tactics that some parties deployed in the run-up to the elections.
Over the weekend, two men were arrested at Opuwo after allegedly removing a Swapo flag hoisted, and burning it.
Police state that the men were charged with contravening Section 6(f) of the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Political Organisations.
“Now they are burning our flags because they didn’t win,” Herunga said.