President Hage Geingob has thanked all Namibians for the peaceful and orderly manner in which they conducted themselves during and after the campaigns for last week’s local and regional government elections.
Addressing his Cabinet members yesterday during the last meeting of the year at State House, Geingob, who is also the ruling party Swapo president, said: “Our citizens have spoken and made their democratic choice. As democrats, we have heard the voices of our people”.
Swapo has lost significant support in the just-ended regional elections, particularly to the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM).
The LPM won five of the seven constituencies previously governed by Swapo in the //Kharas region, while in the Hardap region, the LPM snatched all constituencies from the ruling party.
IPC has won key constituencies such as Swakopmund, Walvis Bay Rural, Windhoek East and Sibbinda, which were previously under Swapo. The ruling party also no longer controls key local authorities such as Walvis Bay, Gobabis, Swakopmund, Windhoek and Keetmanshoop.
“Ultimately, democracy and the people of Namibia are the winners. As the highest decision-making institution at the apex of government, we have to be adequately prepared for the journey ahead; to deliver in all earnest improved services to all Namibians,” Geingob told Cabinet ministers.
Geingob said ministers should use the festive season retreat to prepare better for the year 2021 and beyond.
“There is a saying that it is never too late to do the right thing,” Geingob said.
Geingob also announced the launch of the second Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP), which he said will take place next year January.
“We must create jobs for our young people in the critical sectors, which include the present-day Green and Blue Economies. We must deliver better services to our people,” Geingob said.
“Our success depends on our ability to work harder and smarter in unison and not in silos. Peace, stability and rule of law are condition sine qua non for development to take place,” he added.
‘Trigger-happy BDF’
Meanwhile, the head of state said he has received the joint investigation report that was conducted by both the Namibian and Batswana authorities following the gunning down of three Namibians and a Zambian relative by the Botswana Defence Force last month.
“I have just received the joint investigation carried out by the governments of Namibia and Botswana – and after thorough study, its findings will be shared with the Namibian nation,” Geingob said.
- ktjitemisa@nepc.com.na