Stefanus Nashama
Swapo’s Oshikoto regional coordinator, Armas Amukwiyu, said the party is still popular across the country despite other political players suggesting that it has reached its expiry date among the electorate.
Amukwiyu was responding to remarks made by Landless Peoples Movement leader, Bernadus Swartbooi, who claimed that Swapo has lost its popularity in the northern regions where it enjoyed major support in the past.
While addressing a press conference in Outjo yesterday, Swartbooi said that he was recently in the northern regions and he was shocked to discover that Swapo is no longer wanted there.
“I was in the northern regions but Swapo is no longer wanted there, and I was shocked to hear and see this,” he said.
Swartbooi, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Land Reform on the Swapo ticket, said he is shocked that people in the north have realised their needs, and those needs are no longer Swapo.
He further claimed that election results have always been questionable because there has been a high possibility of election rigging in favour of the ruling party.
He is therefore calling for the protection of votes in the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
“If we do not protect votes in next year’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, then we are all doomed,” he stressed.
He expressed that he was never comfortable with the way the Electoral Commission of Namibia has been handling elections, saying that things have been happening at the electoral body. Therefore, there should be unity to ensure votes are protected in the coming elections.
Swartbooi further claimed, that in the previous election, Outjo residents did not vote for Swapo, questioning where the ruling party got the votes from.
“Swapo is an opposition in Outjo, the residents have not voted to give Swapo the majority,” he commented.
He encouraged young people to join politics and avoid being taken for granted by leaders with no capacity.
“Do not get discouraged, register and vote. Do not just complain without participating in politics, stand up and change the country for the better,” he said.
However, Amukwiyu dismissed Swartbooi’s claims, saying that Swapo would not be shaken by his statements.
Amukwiyu said the party remains intact, with the strongest support of the people and this is not only in the north but countrywide.
“Such a statement is untrue. We have even adjusted our way of campaigning and the party remains functional with majority support. Swartbooi is a product of Swapo, maybe he wants to join the party again. He must come back home,” Amukwiyu commented.
Another Swapo regional coordinator for Omusati Sacky Kayone, said what Swartbooi uttered is an illusion and does not exist.
“Swapo remains strong and functional in the political arena, there is nothing of what Swartbooi is dreaming about. Of course, in democracy, people have the right to choose where they want to be but I can tell the majority belongs to the party,” said Kayone.
