SWAPO Party has made history

By Jerry Ekandjo

The Namibian people in the depth and breath of this country will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Independence on Sunday, 21 March 2010. The 20th Independence Anniversary Celebration will be a momentous occasion for it signifies the achievements of the liberation of Namibia and founding of the new nation

The people of Namibia from all walks of life, irrespective of their race, colour, social status, young and old and of all political persuasions are called to cease this upcoming real occasion, take part and participate in activities marking the 20th Independence Anniversary Celebration. This particular Anniversary affords us an opportunity to reflect and to take stock of the past as a way to plan for our future. We owe it to ourselves to celebrate our achievements and remember the day of the birth of our nation to ensure that we are in tune with the various stages of our evolvement.

We must be proud to lift our flag high for we have found a formula of living in peace and harmony. I call on all SWAPO Party cadres, at all levels of the SWAPO Party structures, from the top leadership, to regional, to districts, branches and sections to rally all the Namibian people to actively participate in the activities of the 20th Anniversary Independent Celebration.

The government of the Republic of Namibia has prepared a programme for the celebration which is to be published in the media services throughout the country. Since the main celebration will take place in Windhoek, all people of Namibia who are able to travel to the capital should to so and join in the celebration.

Our mighty SWAPO Party is a proud organization, proud of its historical achievement of liberating the motherland. The liberation of Namibia was a gigantic responsibility which the SWAPO Party shouldered and for which it preserved, till the day the chains of colonial bondages were broken.

The colonization of Namibia was a part of a large scheme concocted by racist Europeans to subjugate the African people.

For many centuries, the African people suffered untold inhuman degradation, killed inhumanely in millions, enslaved and their resources plundered only to build fortresses in Europe and the America. However, the sheer determination and conviction of the Africans overwhelmed the racist forces and dislodged them from the continent.

The Namibian revolution finds its roots in the early years of the Namibia’s occupation when our ancestors sternly resisted occupation and laid their lives in pursuit of a free people.

We pay homage and tribute to their visionary leadership and foresightedness that set the stage for the following generations to fulfill their legacies. It is because of them that the years of Namibia’s intense armed liberation struggle waged by SWAPO, a revolutionary spirit of patriotism, nationalism, determination, selflessness and commitment engulfed the entire nation, particularly the black oppressed majority, to take up arms and fight the enemy profusely. Our people were inspired by the leadership of Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, the leader of the Namibian revolution, who led SWAPO and its People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), in style and kept the revolutionary spirit ignited through his believes and indeed through his noble deeds. We pay tribute to the fallen heroes and heroines of the revolution who laid down their lives and paid the highest price for the liberation of our motherland.

It is because of them that we are a liberated people enjoying the fruits of their labour. As we celebrate, the Namibian people must not forget the assistance we had received from the people of good will from international communities, particularly from our compatriots in the Republic of Angola, Republic of Cuban, former non-alignment movement, and many others who provided material, weaponry, and shed blood side by side with us to liquidate our enemies. We will forever remain indebted to them.

Therefore, we have all the reasons to celebrate while, at the same time, recalling the past gruesome events so that our generation and those to come will never fall prey to the same or any other force oppressor.

Today, all Namibians are testimony to the high and quality yield of the fruits of independence.

In the years of post independence, our country has been progressively experiencing development in all fields of endeavours and is now rightly occupying its position in the world of nations. The SWAPO Party, having transformed from a mass liberation movement to a mass political organization, remain an authentic representative of the Namibian people vigorously pre-occupied with the upliftment of the lives of all citizens. Remaining true to its principles and noble believes, the SWAPO Party has rolled out programmes and projects large and small to proper Namibian to greater heights.

Our Party will continue to keep Namibia safe and secure by guarding the nation against the vises of destruction which continue to manifest themselves in all shapes and forms. The gains achieved on the molding of the nation during the 20 years of independence have -not come easy. The nations have faced challenges from detractors who have been bent on causing disturbances at the expenses of the Namibia masses. The people of good will in Namibia have remained alert and vigilant not to allow their nation eroding into anarchy and chaos.

Their voices have been loud and clear about the direction they desire to be steered. Of recent, the people of Namibia swept the SWAPO Party to power at the 2009 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Self-centered individuals with ill intensions of reversing the gains of independence and propagating regime change were rejected by the people of Namibia with the contempt they deserved. The great majority of Namibians could not be fooled to believing in the false prophesies of glittering words and empty promises interwoven in deceitful mal-intentions.

As we speak now, they are working day and night trying but, in vain, to impose themselves on the Namibian people.

Their dirty tactics are concealed in their deceptive preaching of a better future for Namibia.

Their messages are, by in large, channeled through some of the self-styled media houses and false human rights organizations that, for the past 20 years, propagating hate and distasteful languages, of hopelessness, distrust and sowing the seeds of hatred.

Of recent, the vicious attack against the peoples’ decision on the election of the political party of their choice speaks volume about the slippery path some members of the opposition parties pulling the country to. The court case being pursued by some opposition political parties and led by RDP demonstrates extend to which self-centered individuals are willing to go to take power. Members of the RDP have been the cause of discomfort to many Namibians in this country.

Their tirades for chasing the self imposing realm of governance have been on for sometimes.

Mr Hidipo Hamutenya, the President of RDP, need has gone as far as joining the chorus singing regime change. He has now joined the defunct terrorist organizations of the UNITAs, RENAMOs and others bandits that had caused untold suffering, destruction and death against the people in their respective countries and of southern Africa. The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) which openly called the opposition political groupings in southern Africa to Germany to advocate and plan for regime change is a slap in the face of the Namibian people, dangerous and totally unacceptable.

This callous attitude cannot be condoned. We call on all organizations habouring the notions of regime change to desist from ever inciting our people and from illegally financing their political projects.

Just two weeks ago, we read an article by Dr Absai Shejavali who writes among other things:

“The destructive seeds of witch-hunting and anti- Kwanyamism have now been sown within SWAPO. Innocent people are witch-hunted, denied opportunities, transferred unreasonably or lose their jobs simply because they happen to be of Kwanyama origin”. It further states that: “Allegations are rife that some people within SWAPO have started to incite hatred between Ndonga and Kwanyama communities in north-central Namibia”. He proclaims that the leaders of the SWAPO Party government have no fear of God and the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia; as a result there is no justice prevailing in the governance system’

The SWAPO Party rejects in the strongest terms the false inferences of Dr Shejavali. His statements are baseless, devoid of any truth and can only be construed as meant to incite tribal hatred. If Dr Shejavali was to probe each case by case he has mentioned in his article, we are certain that the findings will prove him wrong and out of context. There is no seed of witch-hunting of Kwanyama speaking people being sown within or by the SWAPO Party as he alleges. The Kwanyama speaking people are represented in all structures of the SWAPO Party and the government. Dr Shejavali has the right to present any case of abuse for independent investigation. The picture Dr Shejavali paints is devoid of genuine interest of the people of Namibia. It is regrettable, shameful and unfortunate that Dr Shejavali misuses his position to pass judgment on the leaders of the nation. Who are the leaders he claims that they do not fear God? We know too well that this is not the views of the Christians in Namibia and Dr Shejavali has abused his position as a spiritual leader. The 20th Anniversary Celebration is a happy occasion for the Namibian people. The SWAPO Party and her Government has vowed to continue fulfilling the mandate given by the people. Let us all, as Namibians, converge together and make the 20th Independence Anniversary Celebration a memorable event. I thank you.