Office for Nujoma a disgrace: Mudge

THE prevailing poverty in Namibia, which has worsened since Independence in 1990, should be addressed more actively by Government instead of building a N$21,6 million office for retired former President Sam Nujoma, Henk Mudge of the Republican Party said on Saturday.

The RP held its rally in the most northern corner of Katutura’s Okahandja Park, where a brand-new white tent erected by RP helpers was a stark contrast amidst the tin shacks of the informal settlement. A strong Police contingent kept law and order and sent back some Swapo supporters who came close to the venue.”Sam Nujoma has retired and he does not need a new office, so the N$21,6 million should rather be spent here among the poor,” Mudge criticised.”Namibia is ruled by the Swapo Politburo but recently the Swapo Youth League is telling Government what to do, even President Pohamba.Swapo will not change and we must outvote them in elections,” Mudge stated.However, the supplementary registration of voters for this Friday’s regional by-election was made public in a bad way, and not all voters could register, Mudge criticised.”Half of the residents in this area could not obtain a voter card,” he said and asked the people present to hold up their hands if they had such a card.Only about half of them had a voter card.”The Directorate of Elections has not done all preparations for the Friday by-election properly, and our party as well as the other opposition parties will decide on Monday [today] what to do about that, because denying a citizen to exercise the right to vote is very serious,” the RP president said.RP candidate Clara Gowases said the feeding of the crowd after the rally was “not to buy voters”.”We are daily seeing the poverty and ellende in this part of Katutura and decided to give a hot meal to those people who came to listen to us,” Gowases told the people, receiving strong applause.Assisted by Police who managed the long queue at the open-air kitchen, the people waited patiently for their bowl of pap and meat.A strong Police contingent kept law and order and sent back some Swapo supporters who came close to the venue.”Sam Nujoma has retired and he does not need a new office, so the N$21,6 million should rather be spent here among the poor,” Mudge criticised.”Namibia is ruled by the Swapo Politburo but recently the Swapo Youth League is telling Government what to do, even President Pohamba.Swapo will not change and we must outvote them in elections,” Mudge stated.However, the supplementary registration of voters for this Friday’s regional by-election was made public in a bad way, and not all voters could register, Mudge criticised.”Half of the residents in this area could not obtain a voter card,” he said and asked the people present to hold up their hands if they had such a card.Only about half of them had a voter card.”The Directorate of Elections has not done all preparations for the Friday by-election properly, and our party as well as the other opposition parties will decide on Monday [today] what to do about that, because denying a citizen to exercise the right to vote is very serious,” the RP president said.RP candidate Clara Gowases said the feeding of the crowd after the rally was “not to buy voters”.”We are daily seeing the poverty and ellende in this part of Katutura and decided to give a hot meal to those people who came to listen to us,” Gowases told the people, receiving strong applause.Assisted by Police who managed the long queue at the open-air kitchen, the people waited patiently for their bowl of pap and meat.