Stefanus Nashama
The Swapo Party welcomed 60 members from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) on Wednesday.
Swapo’s secretary general, Sophia Shaningwa, and her deputy, Uahekua Herunga, welcomed them at the Swapo headquarters in Windhoek.
Shaningwa received the membership cards and assured the new recruits that she would deliver the old cards to their respective former political parties.
“We are not going to tear them up. They did not belong to us. Of course, the members now belong to the Swapo Party. And they handed over the properties of IPC that will be returned to IPC,” said Shaningwa.
The new members consisted mainly of young people.
IPC leader, Panduleni Itula said his party does not publicise citizens exercising their constitutional rights as private decisions.
“IPC does not publicise citizens’ exercise of their constitutional rights as private decisions and respects our members’ right to privacy in their decisions and is hardly impressed by those who seem to exercise a diminished sense of statutory duties and constitutional obligations to respect the dignity and privacy of others,” he said.
Itula encourages everyone to join any political party of their choice if it confirms their human values and integrity.
“I shall encourage all Namibians to join any political party of their choice if such confirms their human values and integrity (Article 8) and congratulate those political leaders that triumph in such newfound exercise of fundamental rights by citizens. It is a novelty to make such an exercise newsworthy indeed,” he stressed.
He said that without the right to liberty as prescribed in Article 7 of the Namibian Constitution, many people would not have been able to exercise their constitutional right in a democracy and freely choose their leaders.
“I must congratulate any citizen who exercises their constitutional right to freedom of association and choice,” said Itula.
LPM spokesperson, Lifalaza Simataa said the party does not engage in trickery or falsehood when enrolling new members.
“LPM does not engage in trickery or falsehood and has always been open to having individuals leave and join in accordance with their principles,” he said.
