Enemies of SWAPO are buying souls, says Shaningwa
Staff Reporter
Ruling SWAPO Party Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa addressed a mini rally at Helao Nafidi town in the Ohangwena Region, where she praised her party’s members, supporters and sympathizers for having registered as voters during the recently concluded general registration of voters and accused the party’s “enemies” of buying souls.
“Now that the general voter registration has been concluded,” she said, “it is now time to mobilize everyone to vote for the SWAPO Party and its Presidential Candidate in the upcoming November 2024 elections.”
She described the upcoming elections as very important. “We will elect the President for the Republic of Namibia for the next five years, as well as members of the National Assembly as employees of the Party to government.
“We have already identified our SWAPO Party Presidential Candidate in the name of Cde. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, by the SWAPO Party Rules and Procedures. We are in the process of identifying candidates for the Electoral College (The Pot) through our internal democratic processes within our structures,” she said.
She said that after “the pot”, successful candidates will be presented to the public.
Shaningwa said that the Party will identify true, trusted, and tested cadres who understand the Party’s Political Programme, Manifesto, and Party policies and procedures as they develop.
She indicated that they must deliberately infuse the young blood and consider gender representation to ensure women’s participation in leadership positions.
She said the party’s election manifesto, the contract between the Party and the electorate, will be presented in due course.
She reminded the audience that the SWAPO Party brought the freedom, independence and democracy that Namibians enjoy today after a protracted and bitter struggle for National Liberation.
“Many sons and daughters of Namibia sacrificed their lives. This is our rich history, which we cannot shy away from and this is who we are as SWAPO. This is the Party worth being trusted, and this is the Party you can be proud to be reckoned with,” she added.
Shaningwa stressed that if the SWAPO Party can emancipate Namibia and its people from the jaws of colonialism and bring about genuine freedom and independence under such harsh conditions, in the same vein, the SWAPO Party can undoubtedly bring about genuine economic freedom and emancipation.
She said as she enumerated the party’s achievements since attaining power 34 years ago, dismissing its detractors who “hurl insults” towards its leadership.
According to her, it is wrong and unfair to claim that the SWAPO-led government did not deliver.
She spoke of “our enemies” who are addressing “empty rallies” and trying by all means to garner the support which they do not have. “They are trying to pay and buy souls,” she concluded.