I was misquoted, claims Iilonga

DEPUTY Minister of Labour Petrus Iilonga is denying that he accused ‘white people’ of planning to destroy the Namibian nation with alcohol.

Iilonga made the remark on alcohol when he deviated from his written speech during a Swapo Party public meeting held at Keetmanshoop on Saturday. ‘The white people are out to destroy the youth with alcohol in order to gain power of the beloved country Namibia,’ Iilonga said at the gathering.However, on Monday he claimed he had been misquoted by The Namibian. ‘As a veteran politician I will not make such statements, therefore I always concentrate on a prepared written speech,’ Iilonga claimed. Iilonga threatened to take legal action against The Namibian for allegedly tarnishing his name. ‘I’m not threatening you but if you fail to rectify the misquoted report in today’s paper on the following day, I’ll be left with no other choice but to sue you,’ he charged. luqman@namibian.com.na