Peaceful rallies in the North

NO violence was reported when Swapo and the RDP held campaign rallies at Oshakati and Ondangwa on Saturday.

Omusati Police Commander, Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa, thanked his officers for a job well done, and congratulated members of both parties on their mature behaviour.Swapo members and supporters in the Oshana Region flocked to Oshakati on Saturday and packed both pavilions of the town’s Independence Stadium to listen to President Hifikepunye Pohamba.President Pohamba said he was stunned by the huge turnout, which, according to him, was the largest since the first Swapo rally at Okatana in 1989 just before Independence.President Pohamba charged that Swapo was the only national political party of all Namibians, and not a tribal or a family party like many opposition parties.He said Swapo, which liberated Namibia and its people, had achieved many things as far as development is concerned and still has to do more for the development of Namibia. Pohamba asked Namibians to vote for Swapo and renew his mandate to continue with development programmes.Swapo Secretary General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana commended the party’s regional co-ordinator and his people for organising such a successful rally.One of the rally organisers, John Shikongo, told The Namibian that the local business community had helped to make the rally a success. He said Swapo businesses had made 16 trucks available to transport people from all 10 constituencies of the Oshana Region.Also on Saturday, the RDP held a rally at Ondangwa in the Oshana Region, addressed by its President Hidipo Hamutenya.Supporters of the two parties had to pass each other on the way to their respective rallies, and did so peacefully, greeting each other.President Pohamba also addressed a Swapo rally at Omuthiya yesterday.The weekend’s rallies were the final ones in the North before next weekend’s general and presidential elections.It is believed that both Swapo and the RDP will hold their last rallies in Windhoek this coming weekend.