Hilarious Hamutenya
Independent presidential candidate Ally Angula and opposition parties have ditched this year’s Heroes Day commemoration.
The event will be held at Omuthiya on 26 August.
Angula, who was at Omuthiya busy with her campaign last week, said she and her supporters have no intention of attending the Heroes Day commemoration.
She expressed strong criticism regarding the expenditure on ceremonial events amid the country’s economic challenges.
“I feel, given the state in which people are, that that money can be better spent elsewhere,” she said.
Omuthiya residents also witnessed military aircraft flyover exercises in preparation for the commemoration event.
Angula questioned the necessity of the flyover, highlighting the cost of fuel for the aircraft while many Namibians are struggling with poverty.
Angula said that once elected into office, no funds would be allocated for events until the economic issues affecting the majority of Namibians were resolved.
“Until we start fixing the economic situation of this country, all of our events for the next five years under my administration would be by name only. There will not be one cent spent on events until we sort out what the reality of the economic situation is for the majority of Namibians. Only then will we have something to celebrate. For now, we are celebrating a farce,” she said.
Opposition parties said they will not attend the event while it’s associated with Swapo.
“We are not sending any delegates. It is Swapo’s food distribution day,” said Job Amupanda, the leader of the Affirmative Repositioning movement.
“When in the future it becomes evident that it is a national event, then we will attend,” said the Republican Party’s (RP) president, Henk Mudge.
The Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) secretary general, Manuel Ngaringombe said the party is not sending any delegates.
“SWAPO has turned the Heroes Day commemoration into a SWAPO event. The fact that this is an election year makes it worse. I believe that they will do everything to preach their liberation struggle propaganda. We will have the PDM national elective congress in Katima Mulilo, at the same time,” he said.
The Independent Patriots for Change said the event is for ordinary Namibians who are free to attend.
According to the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) spokesperson, Mabasen Narib, the party will be present because it is considered a national event.
“The UDF will attend this event to show that it is a national event and that there is no room for one political party to claim ownership of national events,” he said.
He, however, condemned the ruling Swapo Party for what he terms “transforming” national events into political rallies.
“It is a sad situation that all significant national events have to be associated with Swapo. We must exercise political maturity and separate national events from political events. All Namibians have a right to attend commemorations of important days such as Heroes Day, but the Swapo factor reduces the meaning and value of these events,” he said.
