OLUKONDA – President Nangolo Mbumba has expressed disappointment that young people are jumping to follow opposition parties that lack leadership and direction.
Mbumba made these remarks during a Swapo rally at Olukonda in Oshikoto region earlier this week.
“How can you leave a well-established party with history? Stop jumping and following people with no vision. Wake up. You think you are going to be a leader one day following those parties?” Mbumba asked.
Mbumba said Swapo has the youths’ best interests at heart and space for them at the decision-making table.
“Let the young ones take over the leadership of the Swapo Party, and women can as well take over. As veterans, we are more than ready to give it up, but we will not give our country to people we don’t know and do not trust,” he stated.
Mbumba encouraged people that when going to vote, they should remember they should vote for their country to be properly governed.
“I therefore appeal to you not to make the mistake to vote for those parties and leaders who are promising much but have no track record of delivering anything to the community. Vote for Swapo, the party you know, the party you trust, the party your forefathers and mothers established many years ago to free us from the scourge of apartheid colonialism,” he said.
Mbumba then had a word for the naysayers: “Swapo is going nowhere. Swapo is here to stay and will remain as the leading party in the Republic of Namibia for years, decades, and centuries to come.”
He added that they fought hard for freedom and cannot allow themselves to be defeated by minority parties. “Vote for our vice president, comrade Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, as the next president of Namibia.
“She is the most prepared, capable, and tested leader to continue the Swapo legacy of improving the lives of Namibians and maintaining peace and stability in our country and the SADC region at large,” said Mbumba.
He added that under Nandi-Ndaitwah’s leadership, Swapo will continue to consolidate the gains made so far.
Under her leadership, and with renewed vigour, Swapo will take Namibia and its people to higher levels of continued peace, stability, and prosperity, Mbumba buttressed.
Meanwhile, addressing another rally in Omusati region, Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa urged community members to rally behind Swapo and its candidate, Nandi-Nditwah, who goes by the moniker ‘NNN’ among her comrades and supporters.
Shaningwa made the call during a Swapo Party meeting held at Iipanda village in the Ogongo district on Monday.
She said Nandi-Ndaitwah is a true tested leader who fought in the liberation struggle, which was aimed at freeing Namibians and enjoying the peace they have today.
“We don’t want Swapo Party to be buried by those who don’t want the party due to their personal hate, and allow the party’s history to be forgotten,” she said.
Driving home her message, Shaningwa said Swapo should not be defeated. She said the party wants those who will assist elders at the ballot box to be honest and not cheat the elders of their vote.
She stressed that people should not be ‘fooled’ by those from opposition parties claiming that they are coming to bring change to the country if voted in power, questioning what change they can bring in a country already liberated by those who fought for its liberation.