Political parties told to address bread-and-butter issues

Poloitical analyst Rui Tyitende says political parties should address bread-and-butter issues during their campaigns.

Tyitende says all political parties should initiate policies, development programmes and create conducive environments to facilitate employment opportunities.

He was responding to Swapo Party Youth League secretary Ephraim Nekongo who lambasted opposition parties for promising jobs during a meeting at the Okandjengedi location at Oshakati recently.

“Nekongo does perhaps not understand the intricacies of the political system and ought to be educated. The mandate to govern gives political parties some space to experiment with development ideas that could lead to the creation of employment opportunities. “What if Swapo were in the opposition, would he have asked the same question?” Tyitende questions.

“Are they serving for free or are they on the government payroll paid by taxpayers? Namibians should not listen to these people as they are out of ideas.”

Nekongo labelled the focus on creating employment by opposition parties as a tactic to secure positions.

Independent Patriots For Change spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge says Nekongo’s comments are irresponsible, illogical and lack intelligence.

“There is no common sense in such a situation. His reasoning is not logical and does not even deserve a comment at all. This is a democratic state guided by the Constitution, which states who should participate to steer a government,” says Nashinge.

“Are they all employed in their party?” he questions.

Nashinge says employment is created by both the government and the private sector as a collective.

Nekongo said while unemployment remains a challenge, the government is addressing it through a plan outlined in Swapo’s manifesto, set to be launched next month.

“Problems have been there, and even those who are lying to you that they will give you jobs, are also looking for a job. They have no jobs to offer,” Nekongo said.

He said jobs will only be created if Namibia’s economy is diversified.

Former Ohangwena regional governor Usko Nghaamwa, speaking at a meeting at Helao Nafidi earlier this month, said those “misleading the youth” with promises of jobs are also jobless.

“How can they give you a job if they are also looking for a job? When they are using you like that, it is for their benefit. It’s like a water bottle, you can only use it because there’s water in it but after you are done, you throw it away. Those lying to you [about] employment, that is exactly what they will do to you,” Nghaamwa said.

Nekongo urged the party leaders that will be elected to parliament to remember those they meet during their campaigns.

Speaking at the same event, former Popular Democratic Movement chief whip Vipuakuje Muharukua described those promising change and advocating for new leaders as being disorganised.

“Swapo has 700 branches in this country. I want to challenge anybody, anywhere, other than Swapo, that is so well organised, to have 700 branches countrywide. You will not find such a party,” Muharukua said.

After launching its manifesto in the Zambezi region a week ago, the PDM listed the reduction of unemployment to 11% by 2029 through its ‘One Constituency, One Factory’ policy among its top priorities.