Africa-Press – Namibia. INCUMBENT Swapo vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is in the running to retain her position and become the party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 election, says it is not wrong for the ruling party to boast about its liberation struggle credentials.
She said this helps party leaders to lead the country better.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is the country’s international relations minister and deputy prime minister, is up against the minister of environment, forestry and tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, and prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila in the battle for the Swapo vice presidency post.
According to Nandi-Ndaiwah, some say when Swapo talks about the liberation struggle, it is living in the past.
“You cannot forget what you have learnt at school. What are you going to do in the office? Why do you want me to forget my history?”
Nandi-Ndaitwah was speaking at a belated Heroes Day commemoration held at Oilyateko village in the Ohangwena region on Saturday.
“What am I going to do when leading the Namibian people? What am I going to do when I want to make sure that our people have benefited from the resources of this country? I must be guided by what I have learned,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.
It is important that the youth are constantly reminded of Swapo’s history because failure to do so may see them joining the opposition parties, she said.
“Therefore, those who do not want us to talk about the history, they want to mislead you because their history maybe is not helping them because it’s a wrong history. Ours is the right history,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibians should look to the future with courage and determination, and be inspired by Heroes Day.
She said Namibians should thank the freedom fighters who liberated the country from colonialism.
The country now needs to ensure the well-being of all Namibians to live a decent life in peace and harmony, she said.
“As I have already said, our destiny is in our hands, the bravery and commitments of generations of freedom fighters have shown us that everything is possible if we put our minds together and apply ourselves with dedication to a task that we set ourselves to accomplish.
“We need to take vigilant measures to enhance economic diversification and value addition leading to job creation and more revenue for the state to address the social and economic challenges facing Namibia today,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia needs to make further investments in the production sector, and recognise the importance of the private sector.
“That’s why we must always encourage strong cooperation between the public and private sectors. While the public sector has a responsibility to create a conducive environment, the private sector should invest in the sectors that are an economic growth point, and one of them is agriculture,” she said.
HAUFIKU BACKS NANDI-NDAITWAH, SHANINGWA
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, former health minister Bernard Haufiku said Nandi-Ndaitwah should be re-elected as Swapo vice president, as has been the tradition of the party.
According to Haufiku, Nandi-Ndaitwah has strong values and if given a chance, will drive the country forward and will unite the country.
“This is not to discredit other candidates. Swapo has many capable people, it’s just a matter of one of them will have to ultimately lead us, the party and the country,” he said.
Haufiku said the country needs someone who can lift it out of the current economic and social challenges, someone who listens and works with everyone.
This is the trust and hope that has been placed in Nandi-Ndatiwah, said Haufiku.
“We are not going to compromise it, we have to have every person valued and we have to take everyone with us without leaving anyone behind. That’s our motto,” he said.
To those who believe Nandi-Ndaitwah is too old, Haufiku countered that “age has never been an issue, whether biblical, cultural or otherwise”.
“Actually, elderly people turn to be matured just like wine.”
As a medical doctor, Haufiku said he understands the concept of advanced age but he does not believe Nandi-Ndaitwah’s age will be a constraint to her leadership ability.
Haufiku said a person does not lead the country or organisation as an individual but as part of a team.
“I strongly believe that she will rely on the resourcefulness of other members of the party and other members of the country to make a contribution, including the private sector and the media.
“I don’t think the age will be any problem,” he said.
Haufiku also said he believes Swapo should retain its incumbent secretary general Sophia Shaningwa as the party’s chief administrator.
Haufiku said that although Shaningwa sometimes makes statements that some, including himself, may not always be comfortable with, she has a strong enough connection with the masses to extend her mandate for another five years.
“I think whatever maybe she said in public was more of a team expression but I think she will seek the right cause in transforming this country to the level which all of us want it to be in, pulling a lot of people out of poverty and creating opportunities for young people, and making social services such as education and health available to many Namibians.”
Haufiku said if Shaningwa joins Nandi-Ndaitwah’s team, and they both listen to the technocrats and knowledgeable people, the country stands a better chance than it would with someone else.
Asked about his preference for the position of Swapo deputy secretary general, Haufiku said he was in favour of former Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) secretary Elijah Ngurare.
However, he said former environment minister Uahekua Herunga may also be the right candidate for the position.
“Herunga is a formidable guy, a never [say] die guy. He is committed to the party and committed to the country,” Haufiku said.
He said Ngurare can still play a role in the party, and the country should not lose his resourcefulness.
SPYL secretary Ephraim Nekongo and one of the contestants for the deputy secretary general position, Lucia Witbooi, have also indicated their support for Nandi-Ndaitwah’s vice presidential candidacy.
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