WINDHOEK- The DTA of Namibia says its primary objective during the upcoming national elections would be to reclaim official opposition status at the expense of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP).

The DTA says it will need N$10 million for its campaigns and mobilisation activities.

Party political funding continues to be a headache for opposition parties and as a result it forces them to narrow their political campaigns to only some parts of the country.

“Our objective this year is to become the official opposition once more, and I am confident that N$10 million will be enough to secure our objective. After that, then can we talk about taking over government,” said the DTA’s Secretary General Vincent Kanyetu during an interview with New Era recently.

The DTA was the country’s official opposition since independence until RDP unseated it in 2009.

Kanyetu said N$10 million would be enough to enable the party to canvass for support all over the country, produce propaganda material and execute its election programmes efficiently.

“I am calling on our business community to support the party,” pleaded Kanyetu.

The DTA has already started its campaign but its official launch will be done at a later stage.

“We have been travelling extensively the past weeks in the regions to headhunt new members who can carry our message and to reactivate some of our programmes,” he said.

Kanyetu accused the RDP of being loyal to Swapo instead of driving the opposition agenda.

“We understand what it means to be the official opposition, therefore we will not have a problem when it comes to delivering,” he said.

Just a few weeks ago, Swanu of Namibia President Usutuaije Maamberua told New Era: “N$100 million will be enough to get me into State House next year.”

The Namibian newspaper earlier reported that the All People’s Party (APP) needs about N$3 million, Swanu of Namibia wants N$100 million, while the RDP earlier this month said they would need N$5 million. 

“Our finances are not good at all. We don’t have businesses like Swapo while our members are not well off,” APP president Ignatius Shixwameni was quoted as saying.

Shixwameni added: “We would like to call upon individual Namibians and businesses to donate to our election campaign in order to help us campaign effectively and efficiently and get more and more votes countrywide to strengthen our democracy.”

By Mathias Haufiku