KEETMANSHOOP – Swapo party stalwart Tom Alweendo on Saturday called on the residents of //Kharas region to trust the ruling party with the governance of the country and assured them that the party is committed to its promises.
It is for this reason that Alweendo implored them to vote for the party during the upcoming regional council and local authority elections.
Swapo supporters in party colours gathered in Keetmanshoop to launch the party’s regional campaign ahead of the elections on 27 November.
Alweendo, who is the mines and energy minister and one of the party’s leaders assigned to //Kharas, reminded the gathering that it was Swapo that liberated Namibia and stood firm against colonial injustices.
He said this was achieved with limited resources and international support. “The only thing Swapo had on its side, was the determination to free the Namibian people,” he said.
When the party took over the governance of Namibia at independence in 1990, the size of its economy was a mere N$7 billion compared to the current size of N$180 billion, he said.
He added that Namibia only had 4 500km of tarred road in comparison to over 8 300km of tarred road today.
Alweendo also mentioned increased potable water, electricity and sanitation services access as well as the construction of more classrooms and health facilities as Swapo’ s achievements since being in power.
Projects like Neckartal dam, the Rosh Pinah-Oranjemund road and Unam Southern Campus are evidence of the N$6.5 billion invested towards development in Namibia. “We know that development is not an event; it is not something that happens once only, it is a continuous process,” he said.
“We are equally well aware that more needs to be done to fight the spike in sexual and gender-based violence and also know that we need to continue to fight corruption because corruption is bad for development,” he added.
Alweendo said that at the party’s recent introspection workshop it was concluded that there is a need to improve the delivery of services to the public as well as communicating in a better way with the public.
“Given the complex nature of all these issues and for us to continue to progress, you need someone with steady hands to be at the steering wheel of the country.”
“It must be made clear that Swapo party is a home to every Namibian who subscribes to the ethos of the party and that it welcomes every Namibian who cares about the unity of our country,” said Alweendo.
The assigned leader, in conclusion, urged supporters to vigorously campaign for the party for the nearing elections, explain to the people what Swapo party will continue to do and convey President Hage Geingob’s statement, namely ‘We Heard You’.
– sklukowski@nepc.com.na