Ester Mbathera
Swapo’s presidential candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said corruption is holding the country’s public health facilities hostage.
She said this on Sunday in Windhoek at the party’s final rally ahead of the 27 November elections where she also acknowledged that there is a challenge with the shortage of medicine in hospitals.
“There has not been a problem of money. The problem is the process. A government tender is given to one person. Those who did not get the tender complain justifiably, maybe because we have some people who may administratively do things the wrong way, corruption and this is keeping us hostage,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the party has pledged to urgently review the procurement policy to guarantee the availability of medicine and medical equipment in public health facilities.
“Corruption is keeping us hostage. We have learned the hard way, and the incoming government will make sure to remove all the barriers, all the obstacles so that there is medicine in our hospitals,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah added that there is no need for anyone to seek medical attention outside the country, as Namibia has the capacity to treat any medical condition.
“Before independence, there was no single medical facility in this country. Today, trained by the Swapo government, supported financially and otherwise, we have training doctors specialising in heart surgery. They are here. The equipment is here. We have four brain surgeons trained by the Swapo government,” she said.
She called on all those who claim that the ruling party has failed the nation for 34 years to consider the situation holistically.
Nandi-Ndaitwah shared information from her medical team, who informed her that no one should receive treatment abroad given the government’s investment in medical training.
“We can do everything in here,” she narrated.
She said those who are seeking medical attention outside the country are doing so out of their own accord.
“It is a choice. It is not because there are specialists in the country,” she said.
At the event, the party also readmitted Dimbulukeni Nauyoma to the party.
Nauyoma, Elijah Ngurare, Job Amupanda, and George Kambala were expelled from Swapo in July 2015 for their involvement in the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement.
At the time, the AR movement was actively campaigning for access to land from various local authorities.
“Today I took a conscious decision by the guidance of my late grandmother comrade Shifitukuti that we must never hide anything from our people. We must unmask the lies that are being told through this campaign trail. This conscious decision is to renew my membership of the Swapo party,” said Nauyoma.
Nauyoma said he has renewed his membership to contribute to the progress and development of the country.
The Swapo rally was held in the parking lot of the Sam Nujoma stadium because of safety issues. The stadium has structural problems.
Last week, the City of Windhoek (CoW) put out a tender for renovations to the stadium.
The works, according to the CoW spokesperson Harold Akwenye, include the upgrading and enhancement of the overall structural integrity to comply with international standards.
“These updates are intended to improve the stability of the stadium,” he said.
Post renovations Akwenye said CoW will implement a comprehensive maintenance strategy to ensure that the stadium remains in optimal condition for the next decade.
“This includes regular inspections, routine maintenance schedules for all facilities, and a dedicated team responsible for addressing any issues promptly. Additionally, we are exploring partnerships with local and international bodies to ensure best practices are followed in maintaining the stadium,” he said.
