‘Nothing wrong with swearing an oath’

A SWAPO MP in the National Council says there is nothing wrong with the ruling party requiring its members to swear oaths of allegiance.

Margaret Mensah-Williams, who is the Deputy Chairperson of the National Council, asked why it was considered normal for presidents, ministers, MPs and religious leaders to take oaths and not for Swapo members. “Why is it undemocratic, if you belong to an institution of any sort and you agree with the ideology and principles, to take an oath to adhere to those principles? What is the problem,” Mensah-Williams asked in the NC yesterday.She made these remarks during a contribution to the debate on the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Bill.Mensah-Williams said if there were people in the party who did not agree with this, “maybe they have something to hide.So please exit.If you do not agree, even in marriage where you take an oath, you divorce.”She was reacting to a report that appeared in The Namibian yesterday on the ruling party’s plan to compel its members to swear an oath of loyalty.A draft oath has been compiled which party members will be required to sign and fill in with their party membership numbers.”Why is it undemocratic, if you belong to an institution of any sort and you agree with the ideology and principles, to take an oath to adhere to those principles? What is the problem,” Mensah-Williams asked in the NC yesterday.She made these remarks during a contribution to the debate on the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Bill. Mensah-Williams said if there were people in the party who did not agree with this, “maybe they have something to hide.So please exit.If you do not agree, even in marriage where you take an oath, you divorce.”She was reacting to a report that appeared in The Namibian yesterday on the ruling party’s plan to compel its members to swear an oath of loyalty.A draft oath has been compiled which party members will be required to sign and fill in with their party membership numbers.