Nudo’s Otjiherero manifesto launch sparks controversy amid accusations of tribalism

The National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) has been labelled tribal after the party launched its manifesto in Otjiherero over the weekend.

Nudo’s leadership, including secretary general Joseph Kauandenge, addressed sympathisers and members at Otjinene in Otjiherero at the event.

Kauandenge, however, yesterday said the entire programme was not in Otjiherero.

“Perhaps some speakers spoke in Otjiherero only, but myself as the main speaker, I used Otjiherero and English,” he said.

He asked why political parties address their sympathisers in the country’s official language, English, while they do not understand it.

“Why do that? I don’t understand. Perhaps to impress who, this audience, then leave without getting your message across,” Kauandenge said.

Political scientist Rui Tyitende says Nudo is a traditional outfit and not a political party.

“The genesis of the party is intrinsically tied to the traditional affairs of the Ovaherero, and the party appears to have no intention of gravitating towards a modern democratic party,” he says.

Tyitende says there is nothing wrong with political leaders communicating with their constituents in a language that is understood by the majority of a particular audience.

“In this case, Nudo has no ambitions to be a political party that transcends ethnic identities, as it has no intention of capturing state power at national level,” he says.

Tyitende says the party will forever be confined to geographic localities inhabited by Ovaherero-speaking Namibians.

Political analyst Ben Mulongeni says this highlights a bigger issue in the country.

“That people cannot get out of the cocoon. They are not sensitive to national feelings, they are not willing,” he says.

Mulongeni says manifestos should apply to all Namibians, but some parties are tribally dominated.

“Speaking proudly in the language of the base, or the party base, is actually insensitive and not clever, because you want to show you are talking to your people,” he says.

MANIFESTO SNAPSHOT

Nudo, if voted into power, says it will increase business taxes to fund a N$80 billion budget by 2026.

Namibia’s budget for the current financial year stands at N$101 billion.

“We anticipate creating more than 200 000 employment opportunities during the implementation of our initiatives and projects as outlined in our manifesto,” the document reads.

The party is also eyeing decreasing taxes on speculative capital inflows by 40%, as well as customs and excise duties and levies by 50%.

Nudo further wants to reform the education sector, including making Grade 12 compulsory again for being enrolled at tertiary institutions.

On the health front, the party plans to construct more modern referral hospitals to ease the burden on Katutura Intermediate Hospital.

“Give powers to the Ministry of Health [and Social Services] in the procurement of medicines and necessities to avert situations where hospitals and health facilities are running out of medicine,” another promise reads.

Mulongeni says Nudo’s manifesto offers nothing new.

“It’s a social-democratic kind of ideology,” he says.

He says Nudo’s economic and social policy does not differ much from that of Swapo.