RDP promises development

RALLY for Democracy and Progress (RDP) leaders have promised housing projects, a new petrol station, a truck port and a tourist lodge for Omuthiya if voted into power in Friday’s first municipal election at the town.

About 1 586 registered voters will choose seven town councillors for the newly proclaimed town in the Oshikoto Region. The RDP said on Sunday that it would go public with its members’ list three months from now to prove that it was not a tribal party exclusively for Oshikwanyama speakers as alleged by the ruling Swapo party.Hundreds of people attended the rally, marching to the venue behind the Omuthiya filling station, accompanied by a large motorcade to hear RDP interim Secretary General Jesaya Nyamu and Festus Naholo outline the party’s plans.”We will make our membership known for public scrutiny so that everyone can see who our members are, as they come from all regions,” Nyamu emphasised.”If we had only Oukwanyamas as members, as Swapo alleges, Namibia should be called Oukwanyamaland.President Pohamba is an Oukwanyama, so he is then an RDP member,” Nyamu joked.”Don’t fight or threaten Oukwanyamas, they fought and died for Namibia’s liberation,” he cautioned on a serious note.Nyamu said he, Naholo, Hamutenya and former National Council Chairman Kandy Nehova all lived at Omuthiya and were planning a project for 200 houses and a tourist lodge.”We already have plans drawn up, including a big kindergarten,” he said.He pledged that a town council led by the RDP would compensate people facing eviction – because their homesteads and mahangu fields fall in the municipal boundaries of Omuthiya – more than the present N$5 000.”I am on record for having criticised this low payment when I was still in Government,” Nyamu added.”An RDP town council would pay at least N$25 000 minimum,” he promised, drawing strong applause.Nyamu introduced a group of about 10 Afrikaans-speaking Namibians from the Oshikoto and Oshana regions who have joined the RDP.Another RDP leader, Martin Haikali, said the meat sold by Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana’s butchery at Omuthiya to Namibia Wildlife Resorts for use in restaurants in the Etosha National Park disadvantaged other small meat sellers at the town.”Her meat goes through the King Nehale entrance gate to Etosha nearby, but other local meat producers struggle.”Haikali added that people should not believe Government officials saying the Red Line or Veterinary Cordon Fence would be shifted so that rural farmers from the North could sell their meat south of the present fence.”Don’t believe that – it’s a lie!” he told the crowd.Oshikwanyama speakers faced another difficulty as they and their cattle were chased out of the western parts of the Kavango Region, where they had been grazing cattle for a long time, according to Haikali, referring to a recent High Court order to that effect.He urged voters to “tolerate the present Government”.”By the end of 2009, we will remove them,” he added, drawing applause.Ismael Shailemo (RDP) alleged that the court order to evict Oukwanyama herders and their cattle from Kavango was issued because Government intended to tax the cattle owners.On health matters, Shailemo said it was strange for Government to promise the construction of a hospital at Omuthiya while the State was neglecting the existing hospital at Onandjokwe.”This is not logical,” he said.Omuthiya businessman Festus Naholo, a former Swapo stalwart, hit out at Government for awarding contracts to Chinese companies to build the Omuthiya municipality offices, the Oshikoto regional headquarters and offices for the Youth and Sports Ministry.”The State brings foreigners here – does the State want to starve us?” he asked.”Swapo tells many lies and one is, they tell pensioners their monthly State pensions will be stopped if they voted for RDP,” Naholo claimed.”The RDP will increase pensions if elected; we are definitely the future Government of this country.”No violent incidents marred the rally, which was held amid a strong Police presence.However, minutes after the rally ended at around 19h00, Police had to calm down tempers as a vehicle repair shop next to the main road refused to pump the tyres of a vehicle belonging to an RDP member.The RDP said on Sunday that it would go public with its members’ list three months from now to prove that it was not a tribal party exclusively for Oshikwanyama speakers as alleged by the ruling Swapo party.Hundreds of people attended the rally, marching to the venue behind the Omuthiya filling station, accompanied by a large motorcade to hear RDP interim Secretary General Jesaya Nyamu and Festus Naholo outline the party’s plans.”We will make our membership known for public scrutiny so that everyone can see who our members are, as they come from all regions,” Nyamu emphasised.”If we had only Oukwanyamas as members, as Swapo alleges, Namibia should be called Oukwanyamaland.President Pohamba is an Oukwanyama, so he is then an RDP member,” Nyamu joked.”Don’t fight or threaten Oukwanyamas, they fought and died for Namibia’s liberation,” he cautioned on a serious note.Nyamu said he, Naholo, Hamutenya and former National Council Chairman Kandy Nehova all lived at Omuthiya and were planning a project for 200 houses and a tourist lodge.”We already have plans drawn up, including a big kindergarten,” he said.He pledged that a town council led by the RDP would compensate people facing eviction – because their homesteads and mahangu fields fall in the municipal boundaries of Omuthiya – more than the present N$5 000.”I am on record for having criticised this low payment when I was still in Government,” Nyamu added.”An RDP town council would pay at least N$25 000 minimum,” he promised, drawing strong applause.Nyamu introduced a group of about 10 Afrikaans-speaking Namibians from the Oshikoto and Oshana regions who have joined the RDP.Another RDP leader, Martin Haikali, said the meat sold by Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana’s butchery at Omuthiya to Namibia Wildlife Resorts for use in restaurants in the Etosha National Park disadvantaged other small meat sellers at the town.”Her meat goes through the King Nehale entrance gate to Etosha nearby, but other local meat producers struggle.”Haikali added that people should not believe Government officials saying the Red Line or Veterinary Cordon Fence would be shifted so that rural farmers from the North could sell their meat south of the present fence.”Don’t believe that – it’s a lie!” he told the crowd.Oshikwanyama speakers faced another difficulty as they and their cattle were chased out of the western parts of the Kavango Region, where they had been grazing cattle for a long time, according to Haikali, referring to a recent High Court order to that effect.He urged voters to “tolerate the present Government”.”By the end of 2009, we will remove them,” he added, drawing applause.Ismael Shailemo (RDP) alleged that the court order to evict Oukwanyama herders and their cattle from Kavango was issued because Government intended to tax the cattle owners.On health matters, Shailemo said it was strange for Government to promise the construction of a hospital at Omuthiya while the State was neglecting the existing hospital at Onandjokwe.”This is not logical,” he said.Omuthiya businessman Festus Naholo, a former Swapo stalwart, hit out at Government for awarding contracts to Chinese companies to build the Omuthiya municipality offices, the Oshikoto regional headquarters and offices for the Youth and Sports Ministry.”The State brings foreigners here – does the State want to starve us?” he asked.”Swapo tells many lies and one is, they tell pensioners their monthly State pensions will be stopped if they voted for RDP,” Naholo claimed.”The RDP will increase pensions if elected; we are definitely the future Government of this country.”No violent incidents marred the rally, which was held amid a strong Police presence.However, minutes after the rally ended at around 19h00, Police had to calm down tempers as a vehicle repair shop next to the main road refused to pump the tyres of a vehicle belonging to an RDP member.