Iuze Mukube
Elections come and go, but the country’s interest must always be the priority of all, President Nangolo Mbumba has said. He made the remarks during a courtesy visit by one of the Swanu leaderships’ factions, headed by unionist-turned-politician Evalistus Kaaronda.
The group met Mbumba at State House.
“If we don’t have this [peace], nobody is going to have his or her corner. So, that is what we intend to engage – not only one political party but all the political parties before the elections,” he said.
Mbumba then extended the warring Swanu a branch of wisdom, saying as the oldest political party in Namibia, it should lead by example.
In agreement, Kaaronda stated that it is the responsibility of all participating candidates in the political race to ensure that elections are held in a peaceful environment.
He asserted that Swanu takes that as its responsibility with the seriousness it warrants.
“We would urge all of us, mostly our institutions responsible for elections, to be sure that we can allow all eligible people to register and participate in the actual voting without hindrances.
And during campaigning, of course, one expects the opportunity given to all political parties, especially through publicly-owned media institutions,” he said.
Mbumba added that any political party canvassing for votes must already start practising what they are promising to deliver.
“If a political party is participating in a democratic exercise, if the leader and leaders of that party really aspire to go to Parliament, it is a requirement that we start already behaving like people who will one day be there making laws for the whole country. Not for some, but for all.”
He stressed that “you cannot make laws in Parliament while you are fighting in the street. It just does not work that way.”
Meanwhile, Jeff Kauaria, Swanu’s secretary for international relations, also expressed the importance of peace and stability, as well as the smooth running of the upcoming elections.
“Elections are just a game. It is a game for all of us to play, and to play it fairly.
There should not be intimidation whatsoever. Calmness should prevail, and clear minds of our people should prevail as well,” he said.