2008-01-21Staff Report 2 "By Anna Ingwafa OMUTHIYA Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) held its first rally at Omuthiya on Saturday, as the recently proclaimed settlement in Oshikoto Region gears for its first local authority elections next month. At the congress RDP secretary in the Oshikoto Region, Ismael Shailemo, commended the Swapo Party for liberating the country, but added that the ruling party has also brought about many problems to the country. He said the Swapo-led Government destroyed business people in his region, which according to him, has resulted in many local businesses closing shop. According to Shailemo, the Swapo-led Government has also destroyed the good relationship between Okavango, Ondonga and Ovakwanyama farmers, which he said existed before independence. ""Before independence our cattle were grazing in Okavango, but currently many of the farmers take their animals to Angola because they do not have land here in their region. The Swapo Government is so mean,"" said Shailemo. He said the blame should not be put on the Okavango Traditional Authority, but farmers were ordered to leave following a Ministry of Justice order. Shailemo accused the Government of forgetting its own people especially in addressing the plight of the ex-combatants. He said the Swapo Government gives more credit to people when they die than when they are alive. Speaking at the same occasion, Festus Naholo appealed to President Hifikepunye Pohamba to appoint a presidential commission of inquiry to investigate the misappropriated funds at the Government Institution Pension Fund (GIPF). Naholo said about N$2.2 billion of taxpayers' money has been squandered on irrelevant and poor projects that never materialised. Claiming that most of the people that benefited from the fund were related to the former president, Sam Nujoma, he said this should be probed. RDP announced the names of their candidates to take part in Omuthiya Local Authority elections and they are: Oshikoto RDP Coordinator Moses Amukoto, Magnus Nangombe, Victoria Nepembe, Frieda Williams, Joseph Nekongo, Mbango Amunyela and Stefanus Kaukungwa. According to a Government gazette, political parties will have until January 28 to submit the names of their candidates. The election is set for February 29 and supplementary voters' registration will take place between February 4 and 8. RDP acknowledged the passing away of Ovambanderu Chief Munyuku II Nguvauva and as a result cancelled a rally that was to take place on Saturday at Gobabis in the Omaheke Region. Another RDP meeting that was due to take place next weekend at Eenhana was also cancelled because of the chief's burial that takes place on Saturday. Among those who attended the rally were RDP President Hidipo Hamutenya, Hafeni Nghinamwaami, Martin Heita, Kandy Nehova and Ambassador Shapwa Kaukungwa. " 2008-01-21Staff Report 2
