Nudo’s CC meeting fails to tackle crucial internal issues

HUNDREDS of National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) supporters who thronged the sleepy town of Otjinene at the weekend eager to hear how their leaders planned to tackle two crucial issues threatening to divide the party left disappointed.

Nudo members, who had come to the Omaheke Region from different parts of the country, had hoped to see the party put to rest controversies surrounding last week’s suspension of Secretary General Joseph Kauandenge, and the nomination of candidates for the upcoming November elections. But, Nudo President Kuaima Riruako informed the meeting that the purpose of the gathering was to map out strategies for the November elections.”We have structures to deal with such issues.Kauandenge’s case will be dealt with through proper disciplinary channels,” said Riruako.”[A]nd the candidates’ list will only be drawn up at a later stage.”Some disappointed party followers who spoke to The Namibian complained that they were wrongly informed that meeting was going to tackle “those key issues which we want resolved right before they cause any harm to the party”.”There seems to be an information gap between the leadership and the rank and file members.This has to be bridged to avoid situations like this one, where people rely on rumours and misinformation,” one supporter said.Opening the central committee meeting, Riruako declared that Nudo would contest the upcoming elections on its own, but that it would push for the formation of a post-poll government of national unity.He ruled out the possibility of forging a coalition with other opposition groups in the elections, despite recent reports that some parties were mulling such a move to counter the ruling Swapo party’s dominance.Riruako, however, advocated the need for a government comprised of all political parties if Namibia’s developmental and other socio-economic problems were to be effectively addressed.”Nudo will stand on its own.Let those already doomed parties die their own natural death,” charged Riruako in an indirect reference to the DTA from which Nudo broke away a year ago.He added:”Today marks about 40 years since the existence of Nudo as a political entity, but more importantly it is a year since we found our freedom away from the [DTA] coalition.”Riruako’s swipe at his erstwhile comrades-turned-arch foes in the DTA was greeted with loud cheers of approval from his followers, who still seemed to be irked by the acrimony that followed the organisations’ parting last October.Still, the Nudo leader was quick to reiterate his constant call for an all-party administration in Namibia.”A government of national unity will effectively address the country’s problems in a spirit of true reconciliation and broad based democratic participation of the populace … that is our appeal to the current government,” he argued.The Nudo leader claimed that he had already presented the current Swapo-led administration with his plans for a government of national unity, and was awaiting their response.Presidential and National Assembly, as well as Regional Council elections are scheduled for November.Riruako, one of the presidential aspirants, said that his party’s election campaign would be “issue-driven”.Among the issues the party will focus on during its national campaign are health and social welfare with particular emphasis on the HIV-AIDS pandemic.Other key issues listed by the organisation, which contested all previous polls under the DTA umbrella it joined more than 20 years ago, include land reform, education, employment creation, decentralisation, as well as the fight against corruption and crime.Riruako, who is also the paramount chief of the Herero people, noted that while Nudo wanted a speedy and effective of land redistribution, the party also wanted to see the restitution of ancestral land rights.But, Nudo President Kuaima Riruako informed the meeting that the purpose of the gathering was to map out strategies for the November elections.”We have structures to deal with such issues.Kauandenge’s case will be dealt with through proper disciplinary channels,” said Riruako.”[A]nd the candidates’ list will only be drawn up at a later stage.”Some disappointed party followers who spoke to The Namibian complained that they were wrongly informed that meeting was going to tackle “those key issues which we want resolved right before they cause any harm to the party”.”There seems to be an information gap between the leadership and the rank and file members.This has to be bridged to avoid situations like this one, where people rely on rumours and misinformation,” one supporter said.Opening the central committee meeting, Riruako declared that Nudo would contest the upcoming elections on its own, but that it would push for the formation of a post-poll government of national unity.He ruled out the possibility of forging a coalition with other opposition groups in the elections, despite recent reports that some parties were mulling such a move to counter the ruling Swapo party’s dominance.Riruako, however, advocated the need for a government comprised of all political parties if Namibia’s developmental and other socio-economic problems were to be effectively addressed.”Nudo will stand on its own.Let those already doomed parties die their own natural death,” charged Riruako in an indirect reference to the DTA from which Nudo broke away a year ago.He added:”Today marks about 40 years since the existence of Nudo as a political entity, but more importantly it is a year since we found our freedom away from the [DTA] coalition.”Riruako’s swipe at his erstwhile comrades-turned-arch foes in the DTA was greeted with loud cheers of approval from his followers, who still seemed to be irked by the acrimony that followed the organisations’ parting last October.Still, the Nudo leader was quick to reiterate his constant call for an all-party administration in Namibia.”A government of national unity will effectively address the country’s problems in a spirit of true reconciliation and broad based democratic participation of the populace … that is our appeal to the current government,” he argued.The Nudo leader claimed that he had already presented the current Swapo-led administration with his plans for a government of national unity, and was awaiting their response.Presidential and National Assembly, as well as Regional Council elections are scheduled for November.Riruako, one of the presidential aspirants, said that his party’s election campaign would be “issue-driven”.Among the issues the party will focus on during its national campaign are health and social welfare with particular emphasis on the HIV-AIDS pandemic.Other key issues listed by the organisation, which contested all previous polls under the DTA umbrella it joined more than 20 years ago, include land reform, education, employment creation, decentralisation, as well as the fight against corruption and crime.Riruako, who is also the paramount chief of the Herero people, noted that while Nudo wanted a speedy and effective of land redistribution, the party also wanted to see the restitution of ancestral land rights.