Observer Editor stands by reader’s letter

THE Editor of the Windhoek Observer, Hannes Smith, says Swapo can forget about getting the source of a letter published in his newspaper last week.

Smith said the letter that expressed the hope for President Sam Nujoma to “die soon so that I can urinate on your [Nujoma’s] grave” was genuine. “It was delivered on Wednesday and represents the outrage of several thousands of Namibians.It represents the fury of many people,” said Smith.Last weekend’s Swapo extraordinary congress condemned the Windhoek Observer for publishing the letter.The party’s Youth League tabled a motion calling on the Swapo machinery to uncover the true identity of the author by all means.Smith said no one had approached him so far about the letter, but he would not reveal the source.He said Swapo should concentrate on correcting the wrongs in the party rather than witch-hunting.”What has happened at the congress was disrespectful to Namibia.The President [Sam Nujoma] forced someone on the people.Such political dealings, I have never heard of in my 71 years,” he said.Some congress delegates claimed Smith had no respect for President Nujoma and deserved worse than the resolution that was passed.”I am not a traitor to my country.My record is clean.I was banned and arrested because of Swapo.Now, I am shockingly disappointed by the party I regarded as a saviour of my land,” the veteran journalist responded.Swapo Youth League Secretary Paulus Kapia said they had no choice but to push the resolution because of what he described as Smith’s “utter disrespect” for Nujoma and the party’s leadership.”It was delivered on Wednesday and represents the outrage of several thousands of Namibians.It represents the fury of many people,” said Smith.Last weekend’s Swapo extraordinary congress condemned the Windhoek Observer for publishing the letter.The party’s Youth League tabled a motion calling on the Swapo machinery to uncover the true identity of the author by all means.Smith said no one had approached him so far about the letter, but he would not reveal the source.He said Swapo should concentrate on correcting the wrongs in the party rather than witch-hunting.”What has happened at the congress was disrespectful to Namibia.The President [Sam Nujoma] forced someone on the people.Such political dealings, I have never heard of in my 71 years,” he said.Some congress delegates claimed Smith had no respect for President Nujoma and deserved worse than the resolution that was passed.”I am not a traitor to my country.My record is clean.I was banned and arrested because of Swapo.Now, I am shockingly disappointed by the party I regarded as a saviour of my land,” the veteran journalist responded.Swapo Youth League Secretary Paulus Kapia said they had no choice but to push the resolution because of what he described as Smith’s “utter disrespect” for Nujoma and the party’s leadership.