Windhoek
National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) Secretary General Job Muniaro has called on the Swapo leadership in Omaheke Region to end their squabbles and unite to play their respective roles to help bring about development in the region.
Muniaro, a former acting regional coordinator for Swapo in Omaheke said that division slows progress and if Swapo leaders in Omaheke had the development of the region at heart, they would set aside their differences and live in harmony.
Speaking to New Era yesterday, he asked the Swapo leadership in Omaheke to live in peace because conflict, topped by tribalism, could ultimately breed division and impede development at the expense of residents.
Muniaro advised those with misunderstandings to sit around the table and resolve their differences amicably.
“There is no point in shouting for the governor’s head because we all need each other and even if the governor is removed we will still need each other,” he said.
In a related development some residents of Omaheke last week marched to the offices of Omaheke Governor Festus Ueitele to express their displeasure over tribal remarks attributed to him that caused a tribal storm.
Ueitele came under fire after an audio recording was widely circulated in which Ueitele is heard telling the Bakgalagadi ba Namibia Chief Hubert Ditsabue and his daughter, Josepha Ditsabue, the treasurer of the Swapo Party Women’s Council that some members of the Ovaherero community are backstabbers, practise double standards and do not seem to respect other tribes, a copy of which New Era obtained.
“I don’t want to be tribal, but what I can tell you is that Hereros are the sort of people who do not respect other tribes. Hereros are backstabbers,” Ueitele is heard telling Hubert and Josepha.
“You should be careful with Hereros. These are the types of people who will become your friends only when they want something from you,” he further opined.
In delivering a petition to the closed doors of the office of the governor in Gobabis, residents demanded that President Hage Geingob call Ueitele to order.
In the petition, addressed to President Hage Geingob, Frans Murangi who led the group said that those Hereros that are being labelled as tribalists are the same Hereros that guided the founding president Sam Nujoma into exile.
“How could we have been tribalistic if we are the same people who elected him, Ueitele, to power?” asked Murangi.
“Ueitele through his father was also accommodated to reside in Otjombinde during the harsh laws of segregation,” he added.
Residents also recommended that Geingob apply article 32 (6) of the constitution that states that as the president’s representative the regional governor should uphold, protect and defend the constitution and perform all duties with dignity and leadership, subject to Namibia laws and the constitution.