Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga has apologised for the conduct of some party members who threw food parcels at attendees during a Swapo rally at Walvis Bay on Saturday.
Speaking to The Namibian yesterday, Herunga said no ‘normal’ person would condone how the people received their food.
He described the incident as unfortunate.
“We apologise to the public and the affected people, and we seriously warn those who did that not to repeat it anywhere in the country,” Herunga said.
Swapo expected a turnout of about 20 000 people, but more than double this number reportedly showed up, Herunga added.
The party came under fire yesterday from various political players and social media users after a video showing lunch packs being thrown into the crowd was widely circulated.
Independent presidential candidate Ally Angula says she detests the “barbaric, cruel and inhumane act”.
“I demand that those responsible for this cruel, barbaric and inhumane act, being the ruling party and its interim leader, apologise immediately and publicly for their action of failing to uphold the inherent dignity [sic], and this goes directly against the fight for liberation which was fought for the restoration of human dignity for every single Namibian,” she said in a statement yesterday.
United People’s Movement president Jan van Wyk describes the incident as unacceptable and says attendees whose food was thrown at them “were treated like dogs”.
Independent Patriots For Change (IPC) president Panduleni Itula has criticised Swapo and labelled the incident “undignified and sickening”.
Itula said Swapo’s behaviour shows a complete and utter disregard for humanity.
“This is not an act of charity, it is a blatant attempt to exploit the very people they have impoverished, using their desperation as a means to cling to power.”
Itula adds: “Swapo’s abject mismanagement has driven our people into the depths of poverty and unemployment, and now they further insult and degrade them by treating them as though they do not deserve the most basic respect.”
According to Itula, witnessing citizens, particularly children, scrambling and fighting for food that was tossed at them is not just a disgrace, but an unforgivable insult to the dignity of the entire nation.
Namibians are not a faceless, nameless mob, to be appeased with handouts at political rallies, he says.
“I call upon Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the entire Swapo leadership to immediately apologise for the grave harm they have inflicted upon our people,” adds Itula.
NamRights executive director and Swapo supporter Phil ya Nangoloh has described the party’s conduct as degrading and unacceptable.
Ya Nangolo says Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa and her deputy Herunga must ensure that ugly incidents like this never happen again at Swapo rallies or similar campaign activities.
Meanwhile, Swapo representatives at Walvis Bay have denied that it was party members who threw the food at attendees.
According to Swapo logistics committee member Vapa Newaka, food distribution was well planned until a truck arrived at the Kuisebmond Stadium after the event.
She says a group of people, particularly children, jumped on the truck and started throwing food to people in the crowd.
“We would never do that. It happened suddenly. The police even tried to control the situation but it was difficult. It was also difficult to identify people, as everybody got Swapo T-shirts at the gate.
“We are also shocked at the behaviour of the public, as we previously assured them that there was enough food,” she says.
Newaka further says the food was enough for about 15 000 people, with the food packages containing beef stew, rice, fish and vegetables.
Newaka claims members of the public were asked to remain seated and wait for the food to be distributed orderly, but they stormed the truck.
Some people allegedly walked away with three to five food parcels, she says.
A media conference is due to take place today to shed more light on the incident.
‘Using Food to Pull Crowds’
Meanwhile, IPC spokesperson Imms Nashinge has accused Swapo of using food to pull crowds to political rallies.
Nashinge says he is not bothered by the large attendance at the Swapo rally over the weekend.
“Our people went to eat. People are hungry,” he adds.
“The fact that they are feeding people like the former DTA in 1989 means the party is not certain about garnering votes,” he said.
“They can import as many artists as they can, but voters have brains to detect who is genuine,” he says.
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