ONGWEDIVA – As Swapo celebrates 61 years of existence, the party’s coordinator in the Oshana region, Samuel Nelongo has called on members and leaders to desist from corrupt activities.
“Oshana region seriously abhor corruption and would like to call upon the membership as well as the leadership of various government and public entities to wholeheartedly combat corruption in all its manifestations,” Nelongo said.
He made the call in his solidarity message to the masses of Oshana.
Swapo celebrates its birthday annually on 19 April 2021. Nelongo said the party is eager to step up efforts to enforce discipline in its rank and file, and to improve the conduct of all party functionaries, building honesty and integrity throughout its organs, wings and affiliated bodies.
The coordinator appealed to members to serve, especially the most vulnerable, the oppressed and the downtrodden.
The party has come under scrutiny after some of its members were alleged to be involved in criminal activities.
Recently, Minister of Defence Peter Vilho tendered his resignation after he was accused of not declaring a foreign bank account.
Former ministers on the Swapo ticket Sacky Shanghala and Bernard Esau were in 2019 arraigned on corruption charges and are awaiting trial.
In July 2019, the then education minister, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa was found guilty of having corruptly used her former office as Governor of the Hardap region. Taking stock of the achievements recorded over the years in the Oshana region, Nelongo appealed to public institutions and enterprises to give preferential treatment to cooperatives and public-private partnerships involving youths and women in the various sectors of the economy when procuring goods and services.
“Policy and legislative initiatives at national, regional and local government levels should also be introduced for this idea to take effect,” said Nelongo.