Founding President threatens ‘foreigners’ – except Angolans

CALLING on Namibians to tighten their belts and work harder, founding President Sam Nujoma at times angrily lashed out during a speech at a Swapo rally at Helao Nafidi in the Ohangwena Region on Saturday.

Blaming the current woes of the global economy on ‘imperialists’, Nujoma called on Namibian businesspeople to invest more in the country’s development and for students to study harder. With thousands in attendance, the former President also hit out at criminals, saying the Swapo government would not allow crime to destabilise the development and security of the country. Nujoma also used the platform to attack some Pentecostal churches, which he accused of being ‘false churches’ out to ‘disturb peace and stability’ and ‘misguide the people’. He also urged Namibians to stay true to their traditions and cultures and not to give in to foreign influences. ‘We will only work together and co-operate with those foreigners who are respecting us and those who do not can pack and go or they will face bullets in their heads,’ Nujoma said.Nujoma called on Namibians to respect Angolan nationals because of the Angolan contribution to Namibian independence, saying that Namibians who mistreated Angolans were mistreating their own. ‘Everyone who treats Angolans badly or beat them, must know that he is beating us true Namibians, and he will be dealt with,’ said the former President. Also speaking at the same occasion, Swapo Secretary General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana urged those in attendance to go and register to vote in the National and Presidential elections later this year. ‘Go register as a voter and make sure you have your voting card at the day of the voting, so that you can vote for your Swapo Party and give it the mandate to continue ruling Namibia,’ Iivula-Ithana said.President Hifikepunye Pohamba addressed a Swapo rally at Ondangwa yesterday.