Swapo promises local fuel for drivers ahead of election

Swapo deputy Secretary general Uahekua Herunga promises Namibians that they will soon fuel their cars with locally produced oil.

This comes as electioneering takes centre stage ahead of the November presidential and National Assembly elections.

Speaking at a rally at the Amutanga village in the Oshana region on Saturday, Herunga also took a swipe at Independent Patriots for Change president Panduleni (IPC) Itula who he described as Kandjafa.

“You are listening to Kandjafa (Itula). Telling you what? Comrades, do you understand that the white people will not give money to buy 101 vehicles for nothing? . . . The natural resources of this country cannot be given into the hands of the wrong people,” Herunga said.
Kadjafa is an Oshiwambo term referring to a jacket.

Herunga used the term in a sarcastic way to refer to Itula’s constant wearing of a suit.

“Recently, oil was discovered in the country and they said by 2027 or so, comrades, you will fuel your car with Namibian oil. That is why you are seeing the whole world is funding the opposition parties, for them to have access to this oil and we must never ever allow them to do so,” Herunga said.

He accused Itula of being funded by white people, a view IPC dismissed.

IPC spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge says Swapo leaders are in “panic mode”.

“It is a clear sign that their time is up. Our people can no longer be fooled, whether educated or not. Which resources is he talking about if all the mines in the Erongo region, for instance, are foreign owned? High unemployment is skyrocketing and the living cost has gone up. Namibians cannot even afford fish and you talk about resources,” Nashinge says.

Herunga says Namibians must make sure they vote for Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Swapo.

“In our next government, our sole mandate is to deliver and deliver. Nothing more and nothing less and not to be involved in any other illegal activities in this country,” Herunga said.

Herunga said the Swapo election manifesto will be launched soon.

“In this manifesto you will see what the Swapo party will do for you. Therefore, dear comrades and friends, you are all urged to make sure that we do not give the future of this country to those who have blood on their hands. Swapo is in your hands,” Herunga said.

He said Nandi-Ndaitwah’s hands are clean, as nothing has gone wrong in any portfolios she has served.

Nashinge says Swapo leaders have finished up what they can tell the Namibian people and are in panic mode.

Nashinge says talking about and attacking IPC at their rallies is free marketing and there are no facts to back up their allegations.

“As IPC we want to focus on important things and not engage in attacks. Now every party is ganging up against the IPC with attacks coming from both sides. We are just challenging the status quo and it seems like these parties do not want anything to change. Corruption by Swapo has hindered development in this country and that needs to change,” Nashinge says.

“Our country is at a crossroad and things need to change by getting new leadership. For a long time Swapo has taken Namibians for a ride by only appearing during elections and telling people lies,” he says.

Commenting on western funding and vehicles, Nashinge says Swapo already has access to the central bank and financial intelligence and can see what is happening.

“They can go in the records and see where the funds of the party come from. They can go to Natis and see who owns the cars. Deep down in their hearts they know that they are lying. The people cannot be fooled any longer. What have we eaten of Swapo that they are always talking about IPC?,” Nashinge asks.

Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah last week said Swapo politicians have nothing to campaign with, despite having many conspiracies and are trying to cover up their failures.