Africa-Press – Namibia. Swapo president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has strongly condemned the rise of self-serving attitudes within Swapo, warning against the “politics of the belly”.
She made the remarks during the party’s 65th anniversary celebrations in Kamanjab over the weekend.
Addressing members, she said some individuals have joined the party not to serve the people and the nation, but to advance their own interests.
The Head of State urged that the trend be rooted out to safeguard Swapo’s founding principles. Nandi-Ndaitwah said “as your President, comrades, you gave me this responsibility. I will do it. I am worried as we are celebrating our 65 years. We continue celebrating as a strong united party, but I am worried, as I consistently observe a decline in party discipline. We are losing our focus on saving our people, and want to save ourselves”. “Some people who call themselves Swapo members are not really Swapo members. They are joining the party to serve themselves. We must find a way to safeguard against these intruders,” she highlighted.
The President slammed a member who voted for an opposition candidate for the position of deputy chairperson of the Standing Committee on International Relations, Defence and Security in the National Assembly last week.
“Members of that committee are all suspects of having sold out the party. It’s really painful,” she said.
She added that such behaviour causes delays in executing constitutional responsibilities, and undermines the party’s credibility.In the same vein, the President cautioned party members against petitions within the party.
She said they must refrain from sending petitions directly to her.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the members should go through established party structures.
“If I get a petition and I see it in the media, I’ll reject it and not act on it. I cannot be dealing with petitions while there are social and economic issues to attend to,” affirmed the President.
Trendsetter
In her remarks, the President acknowledged the strides the party has made in achieving 50/50 gender representation.
She noted that today, women are at the helm of major institutions and communities.
“The party’s 2002 congress resolution on gender equality, advocating for a 50/50 representation of women and men within our structures, demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity and empowerment,” Nandi-Ndaitwah stated. She continued: “Our ‘zebra style’ in all our structures serves as a beacon of progress and a trendsetter in Africa, confirming that true transformation must involve every citizen in our quest for equity and justice”.
Devastating
The stateswomen expressed concerns regarding the gruesome murders of two children from Okahandja.
As an immediate response, Nandi-Ndaitwah constituted a high-level committee to address the situation and devise mitigating interventions.
The committee consists of Gender Equality and Child Welfare Minister Emma Kantema-Goamas, who is chairing the committee; Education minister Sanet Steenkamp; Home Affairs, Safety and Security minister Lucia Iipumbu Justice and Labour Relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel, and Health minister Esperance Luvindao.
The committee convened for the first time in Okahandja yesterday.
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