Star rally to introduce SWAPO candidate

By Levi Upula and Asser Ntinda

As preparations for next month’s by-election in Okahandja get underway, SWAPO Party plans to hold a star rally in Okahandja next Sunday to introduce its candidate to the public.

The star rally, slated for Sunday afternoon, will be addressed by SWAPO Party Secretary General, Cde Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana. Party leaders are also expected to attend the rally in full force. The SWAPO Party candidate is Cde Steve Biko Booys who was recently nominated and elected by the leadership of SWAPO Party in Otjozondjupa Region. He emerged the winner in the three-man contest, and was eventually endorsed by the Party’s Politburo. Cde Iivula-Ithana said the leadership was satisfied with the manner through which the Internal selection process was managed and gave its nod to the identification and eventual election of Cde Booys. The Secretary General also announced that the controversial Ben Katamila, who has defied Party’s instruction and has chosen to stand as an independent candidate , has been expelled from SWAPO Party. She said that while SWAPO Party members had the right to elect or be elected to positions of authority, they also had obligations to observe and comply with Party decisions, resolutions and directives of the majority, even if they had voted against them.

“In this regard,” she said, “as a self-respecting, disciplined and democratic organization, SWAPO Party cannot allow anarchy to rein within its ranks, no matter what their status in the society.

“Accordingly, the Politburo examined and considered carefully the circumstances surrounding Katamila’s activities leading to his decision to stand as an independent candidate, contrary to the letter and spirit of the SWAPO Party Constitution and the Guidelines for the Election Procedures for Party officials to the government level of SWAPO Party.

“The Politburo therefore unanimously decided to expel Katamila from SWAPO Party with immediate effect. We call on all SWAPO Party members in Okahandja Constituency to support the sole candidate of the SWAPO Party, Cde Booys.”

Katamila becomes the third person to be expelled from SWAPO Party since independence. The first was Abraham Ndumbu, who was expelled from the Party in the early 1990s. The second one was Jesaya Nyamu, who was expelled from SWAPO Party in 2005.

Ndumbu was expelled from the Party when he led a faction of the Namibia National Student Organization, NANSO, that wanted the students’ organization to disaffiliate from SWAPO Party. He has since joined the Congress of Democrats, CoD.

Nyamu was expelled for subversive activities following the 2004 SWAPO Party congress in which his presidential candidate, Hidipo Hamutenya, was trounced by President Hifikepunye Pohamba. He jotted down notes encouraging Hidipo’s supporters to “destroy the new administration of Pohamba” from within.

Nyamu also urged Hidipo’s supporters to “prepare” for a long political battle, which would result in the formation of a “rival party.” He has since formed the Rally for Democracy and Progress, RDP, which is led by Hidipo. She said that the Politburo had also received an extensive report on the preparation of the Party’s legal team on last year’s elections results, which were being challenged in court by some opposition parties.

“We are convinced beyond doubt that the motive behind the challenge of the elections outcome by nine opposition parties is a carefully orchestrated maneuver of seeking sympathy from their sponsors,” she said.

“Therefore, it is vital that we all, as a nation realize and expose these tactics which are aimed at creating chaos and confusion to influence public opinion to be hostile towards SWAPO Party and its government.

“The victory of SWAPO Party is irreversible. The people of Namibia are SWAPO and SWAPO is the people of Namibia. We urge all MPs elect to the National Assembly to prepare for the inauguration of the new government in March 21st, 2010.

“Namibia is free forever. We SWAPO Party members will at all times, stand tall and proud in the defence of our sovereignty, freedom and national independence.