Windhoek
Expelled Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) leader Dr Elijah Ngurare says he doesn’t need to apologize for any of the activities that led to his expulsion from the ruling party.
In the same breath he accused Swapo of going out of its way to appease some party members with fishing quotas and EPLs (exclusive prospecting licences), apparently “to silence them”.
Ngurare made the remarks when he spoke at a public forum organised by the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday night. He spoke on a raft of issues pertaining to his expulsion from Swapo and matters related to the sensitive land question.
Ngurare was kicked out of Swapo primarily for his links to the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement, led by the outspoken Job Amupanda.
“I will not plead or beg for anyone to be reinstated. They can take away everything but one thing they cannot take is the oxygen we breathe because it is for all of us, even those in State House,” said a defiant Ngurare.
He said he was also not concerned about any possible attempts to remove him from the several boards he currently serves on. He serves on the boards of Namdeb Holdings, Africa Online, MultiChoice Namibia, Kalahari Holdings and the Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater).
“If those things are taken away, it does not concern me one bit,” he said.
Ngurare told of how an attempt was made to lure him into joining the club of fishing quota and EPL holders.
“I was enticed by being afforded the chance to go to parliament or to have fishing quotas and EPLs, but I declined those offers,” said Ngurare.
According to Ngurare: “This is an indirect way of imprisoning your conscience because they think by giving you luxuries they have a stranglehold on you.”
He also claimed that there are some top government officials working “underground” to sabotage the recently clinched mass land clearing and servicing deal, between the government and the AR movement.
“We know there are some people in the government working hard to make sure the agreement does not succeed. I appeal to all patriots in government, who are thinking of sabotaging the project, to put the interest of the nation first, because the failure of this project will be in nobody’s interest,” he pleaded.
“Let us give the youth hope and solutions,” Ngurare said, adding: “People only feel proud when they own their own shelter.”
He also also spoke about the affirmative action (AA) loan scheme provided by the Agricultural Bank of Namibia, saying it was established to cater for well-connected individuals and their cronies.
“Affirmative loans were put up for the well connected, but primarily for parliamentarians and their friends. It made sure people became farm owners.”
Without mentioning names, the former SPYL secretary alleged several AA beneficiaries constantly default on repaying their loans, but no action is taken against them because “they are well protected”.
“Our people in informal settlements have shacks marked ‘illegal’, while others lose their property when they default,” he charged.
“It is a good thing our youth are well schooled nowadays, so they cannot be lied to anymore.”
He said it is sad to note that 25 years after independence, many Namibians still do not own land or have access to social amenities.