The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has accused the ruling Swapo party of sabotage in trying to obstruct the work of the ‘progressive forces’ in various local authorities across the country, citing the recent land grabbing incidents in Windhoek.
PDM’s Secretary-General Manuel Ngaringombe in a statement on Thursday claimed that the sabotage and obstruction have taken form through organised grabbing of land instigated by Swapo functionaries, strategic misalignment of the progressive forces’ agenda, as well as the spreading of propaganda by Swapo on various physical and online platforms.
He said based on the 25 November 2020 elections that gave the opposition the popular mandate to lead in a number of local authorities across the country, various opposition formations came together to form coalitions and subsequently lead as an absolute necessity required to address the complex economic and social contradictions that have been sanctioned over the past 31 years of the Swapo party’s maladministration of local authorities.
‘However, not everyone is pleased with the fact that the progressive opposition formations have taken over the reins of some local authorities around the country, including the Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund municipalities,’ Ngaringombe said.
Upon enquiry by Nampa, Swapo party spokesperson Hilma Nikanor dismissed these claims, stating that Swapo has never seen them as a threat and therefore cannot stoop that low to sabotage the country’s development.
‘They made promises to the electorate and therefore they should deliver as promised and stop pointing fingers,’ added Nicanor.
She also said Swapo has no reason to undermine democratically elected leaders, much less sabotage them, adding that up to date they have not fulfilled their promises to the masses who are now up in arms over land.
Nicanor however warned those being instigated to engage in land grabbing to cease, stating that the country has plans in place for fair distribution of land without resorting to violence and propaganda.
Source: Namibia press Agency
