By Charles Tjatindi
WALVIS BAY
About 700 people flocked to the Kuisebmund stadium on Sunday to witness the first political rally of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) in the Erongo Region.
The crowd – consisting of mainly young people – waited patiently as the interim leadership of Namibia’s youngest political party started arriving for the event.
There was a moment of comic relief for the patient crowd, when former trade unionist and SWAPO activist Festus Naholo took to the stage.
After proudly stating that he addressed his last workers’ rally as a ruling party activist 27 years ago, he called on the various members of the RDP’s interim leadership to come to the stage for introduction.
When presenting the deputy secretary for RDP’s Youth League, he accidentally proclaimed that he was introducing the SWAPO Party’s Youth League vice secretary. This appeared to stir differing emotions amongst the crowd with some resorting to raising the “mannetjie’ – Swapo’s slogan – while others simply shook their heads.
Naholo profusely apologised to the crowd for the error, before introducing the rest of the RDP’s interim leadership.
This included the party’s interim president Hidipo Hamutenya, his deputy Steve Bezuidenhoudt, Kandi Nehova, Shapua Kaukungwa and Nicanor Ndjoze.
Other RDP officials in attendance included Nora Appolus, Christophina Paulus and Ellen Musialela.
Hamutenya’s speech focused on democracy and social development. He noted that the concept of democracy has been at the forefront of the RDP’s political programme since the party’s formation.
Hamutenya said his party strongly believes in popularising the concept of democracy, with the emphasis on participatory democracy.
“For the concept of democracy to be effective, it should be a participatory process. RDP does not believe in guided democracy. Democracy has been listed in the constitution under the Bill of Rights, and that is what RDP intends to protect,” he said.
Although some members of the crowd responded “Down RDP”, and “Viva Swapo”, the RDP’s interim president nevertheless continued with his speech.
Hamutenya lashed out at the ruling party’s decision at its last congress to set up a media council, which he described as undemocratic.
He said in order to allow for a democratic society, the operations of the media should be free of any influence of any kind, and that the media should be allowed to operate without interference.
“It is sad to note that in the 21st century, the ruling party still wants to control the media. RDP rejects such a notion. We believe that there cannot be a democratic society if it does not allow the media to voice itself,” Hamutenya said.
The RDP’s interim president also took a swipe at the apparent failure of the ruling party to create an education system that can produce the qualified professionals that Namibia needs.
He said his party would reform the entire education system if it comes to power, in order to create opportunities for young people, whom he said the current education system is failing.
“The Namibian economy demands qualified people with technical know-how to develop the country, but this has not been forthcoming from the current education system. The current education system is not equipped to produce well-qualified teachers that will teach our youth – tomorrow’s leaders,” he noted.
Hamutenya also used the platform to lash out at members of the public especially Swapo supporters that are allegedly intimidating RDP members, urging RDP supporters to report such incidents to the police.
“RDP has the same rights as Swapo. It is registered and has a right to carry out its programmes without fear of intimidation. Swapo is just scared of the RDP because it knows it faces stiffer competition than ever before,” he said.
He appealed to RDP supporters and sympathisers to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, and rather leave the police to handle any form of intimidation that they might be facing.
He also assured the party’s supporters that the RDP will not wait for the next presidential elections, but will also contest any by-elections that might come up before 2009.
“If new municipalities are declared, RDP will be there to contest those elections. Given the number of people here today, we are certain that RDP is ready to even take over the leadership of the Erongo Regional Council,” he noted to cheers from the crowd.