2015-03-02Staff Report 2 ONGWEDIVA – The leader of the Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) Epafras Mukwiilongo has warned former members of Koevoet and SWATF to desist from threatening national leaders and issuing ultimatums to the Swapo-led government. Last month, former SWATF and Koevoet members through their organisation Namibian War Veterans Trust (Namvet) gave until April 01 for Swapo to apologise to them, for allegedly accusing them of planting a bomb that killed 27 people in the former Barclays Bank, which is now First National Bank (FNB), on February 19, 1988. Namvet spokesperson, Frans Jabulani Ndeunyema, made threatening remarks to President Hifikepunye Pohamba and to founding president Dr Sam Nujoma that “what killed Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Iraqi former president Saddam Hussein is still hungry”. He also remarked he was prepared to die through a bullet fired from a gun. Ndeunyema further stated that if Namvet’s demands are not met, they were going to “put sand in the meal and spoil it for everyone”. Mukwiilongo however condemned Ndeunyema and his group for “provoking peace and making threats” against national leaders. Mukwiilongo further accused Namvet of making unfounded allegations, maintaining that Swapo owed them nothing. “For their information the N$36 million was meant for the reparation of war [victims], but not for makakunyas (Koevoet and SWATF). The makakunyas were responsible for the destruction of properties and the killing of innocent Namibian people during the war. Just to mention a few [incidents], David Sheehama and his properties, Nangolo Jacob’s three shops were burnt down, ELOC printing press was also burned down, the Namibia Printing Press was razed to the ground with all its machinery, Omuulukila Catholic Church was destroyed, Odibo Angelican mission was burned down, Elim mission hospital’s storeroom was burned and many more. We also had business people who fled their businesses and upon return they found nothing. Community members who suffered the same interrogations and suffocations also fled the country [because of Koevoet],” recalled Mukwiilongo. The N$36 million was meant to pay all damages suffered by war victims, including for the destruction caused by Koevoet and SWATF. 2015-03-02Staff Report 2
