Nandi-Ndaitwah warns against using drought relief for positions

Swapo vice president Netumbo Nand-Ndaitwah has called on the party’s district and branch coordinators not to use drought-relief food assistance for positions.

She was speaking at a party workshop for district coordinators and information and mobilisation officers yesterday.

“We have to know at all times that we are deployed by Swapo, and we cannot come to Swapo when we want to [be elected into positions],” she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah condemned coordinators’ interference in the distribution of drought-relief food assistance meant for the needy.

“Moving forward, we will not as the leadership want to hear somebody say, a district coordinator or a regional coordinator is interfering in the work of the regional councillor, who is on a Swapo ticket.

“That cannot be accepted, so that we would be able to address the programme of our people. It must start with the drought programme,” she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah told district and regional leaders to allow regional councillors to distribute drought-relief food.

“We need all Namibians to survive. I am saying we should not politicise the drought-relief programme. It is for all Namibians, because as an elected party to be in this government, we have to take care of all Namibians wherever they are, and you cannot deny anyone this food,” she said.

Questions sent to the Office of the Prime Minister about discrepancies were unanswered at the time of going to print.

Nandi-Ndaitwah further took issue with Namibians benefiting from the drought-relief programme while having an income.

“Those of us with an income, let us allow those with no income to be assisted . . . please meet the government halfway,” she said.

Claims of discrimination in drought-relief food assistance to households have abounded, with the most recent complaints originating from Rehoboth.

Former parliamentarian Jan van Wyk has previously questioned prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila about the unfair distribution of these parcels.

Last August, the Office of the Prime Minister’s executive director, I-Ben Nashandi, said regional councils would oversee and facilitate the identification and registration of beneficiaries at village level.

“This should be done through transparent platforms, preferably community meetings coordinated by community leaders to identify and register households in dire need of this assistance,” he said.

Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah yesterday said Nandi-Ndaitwah said “the right thing”, adding that the distinction between political parties and the government should be clear.

“Political parties need to be informed that government information must . . . be public knowledge,” he said.

“Government resources, taxpayers’ resources, and public resources must not be used to advance any political party’s agenda. I think it is good she pointed out that it must not be politicised,” he said.

Moreover, the party’s vice president instructed branch coordinators and mobilisers to not engage the electorate in election years only.

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s words come a few weeks after Swapo branch coordinator Bonifatius Munango was slapped by a Mix settlement resident, who said the party does not deliver on its promises, but only returns to the area for election campaigning.

“Our engagement with the community will not end with elections. It must be a continuous responsibility to be in contact with our people.

“People want to be recognised. People want to be heard. Whatever you get from the people, you pass it on to the next level of leadership, until it reaches the government,” she said.

The one-day workshop was aimed to inform Swapo’s district coordinators on national programmes, such as on infrastructure, drought and budget priorities.

The party will postpone its anniversary celebrations to May under the theme ‘Unity in Diversity, Natural Resource Beneficiation for Youth Employment and Empowerment for Sustainable Development’.