WINDHOEK- Opposition political parties yesterday heaped praise on the Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development (Rtd) Major General Charles Namoloh for condemning the arbitrary and undemocratic designation of so-called ‘no go areas’.
This week Namoloh made it categorically clear that all political parties should campaign freely ahead of the national general polls in November without any intimidation or restrictions whatsoever.
Namoloh said all registered political parties should be allowed to hold political rallies anywhere in Namibia without exception. According to him if parties were not allowed to campaign in certain parts of the country, government would have pronounced itself on that already. Reacting to Namoloh’s statement, DTA president McHenry Venaani said his party has already been prevented from campaigning in certain areas in the north. “In some cases people want to burn your car. This is a bad culture for elections, we must open up so that the elections can be violence-free and all parties should subscribe to an ethos of free and democratic areas. The ruling party supporters must stop this ‘no go areas’ [syndrome], because they are the largest and they have certain areas they consider their strongholds. People should be given the right to canvass freely,” he said. Venaani said SADC powerhouse, South Africa has set a bad precedent for conducting bad elections with the political violence in that country. “It is bad for democracy and it must be avoided,” said Venaani.
Nudo also praised Namoloh and at the same time reminded Namibians to learn from other countries to prevent violence as the country prepares for elections. “We were never stopped or prevented and we have also not stopped any political party that campaigned in our stronghold areas. But we have observed the Swapo and RDP issue where they always differ in this regard,” said party election campaign spokesperson, Vetaruhe Kandorozu. He was referring to fights between the two parties over the placing of party flags on trees in some of the northern constituencies. Kandorozu, who is also the party’s deputy secretary general, condemned those who create ‘no go areas’ and warned that such ‘barbaric acts’ could lead to acts of politically instigated violence. “As a party we fully support the minister’s remarks and we are happy that he cautioned his people. Namibia is open to any party,” he said. He said ‘no go areas’ contradict the principle of human rights and democracy.
Swanu President Usutuaije Maamberua said he is not interested in ‘no go areas’ and nobody can stop Swanu from campaigning where it wants to campaign. “There is no ‘no go area’ for Swanu. That is only for parties who are afraid of each other. We are in a free country, therefore we will campaign anywhere. Those that intimidate each other over flags and trees, let them do their thing. We will place our flags where we want,” said Maamberua.
By Mathias Haufiku