In love and war
They say all is fair in love and war. Political 'warfare' is no exception and as Ondangwa Urban voters gear up to vote in an upcoming by-election, the gloves have come off.
The object of derision, both from some social media keyboard warriors and Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, is 27-year-old Angelina Immanuel, who has 'dared' to take on the might of Swapo by standing as an independent candidate.
As if spurred by a hellish fear that a victory for Immanuel would represent some kind of tipping point, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila - obviously at the behest of Swapo's leadership circle - went for the jugular this past weekend.
While accusing Immanuel of using ruling party colours and symbols on campaign materials, the prime minister bashed the young women, saying: “How do you vote for somebody that has no policies and they are only talking? They belong to no party with a political manifesto. You do not even know what they are standing for and they are just promising heaven and earth.”
This the very same Kuugongelwa-Amadhila who was plucked from relative obscurity in 1995 to head up the National Planning Commission (NPC) at the age of 27. She had earlier returned to Namibia following her graduation at Lincoln University in the United States, and took up a position as a desk officer in then president Sam Nujoma's office. She was appointed as finance minister in 2003.
Fast-forward to 2019, and Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who is still a relatively youthful 51 years old, has been rolled out to attack a young woman she has probably inspired. Not only that, she seems hell-bent on stopping Immanuel in her political tracks, while she herself was derided all those years ago because of her youth.
Yes, all is fair in love and war, but the irony has not gone unnoticed. If Kuugongelwa-Amadhila truly believes Immanuel has nothing to offer, and that her so-called promises are any different to what all political parties normally spew, then let the young woman debate Swapo's candidate!
The object of derision, both from some social media keyboard warriors and Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, is 27-year-old Angelina Immanuel, who has 'dared' to take on the might of Swapo by standing as an independent candidate.
As if spurred by a hellish fear that a victory for Immanuel would represent some kind of tipping point, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila - obviously at the behest of Swapo's leadership circle - went for the jugular this past weekend.
While accusing Immanuel of using ruling party colours and symbols on campaign materials, the prime minister bashed the young women, saying: “How do you vote for somebody that has no policies and they are only talking? They belong to no party with a political manifesto. You do not even know what they are standing for and they are just promising heaven and earth.”
This the very same Kuugongelwa-Amadhila who was plucked from relative obscurity in 1995 to head up the National Planning Commission (NPC) at the age of 27. She had earlier returned to Namibia following her graduation at Lincoln University in the United States, and took up a position as a desk officer in then president Sam Nujoma's office. She was appointed as finance minister in 2003.
Fast-forward to 2019, and Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who is still a relatively youthful 51 years old, has been rolled out to attack a young woman she has probably inspired. Not only that, she seems hell-bent on stopping Immanuel in her political tracks, while she herself was derided all those years ago because of her youth.
Yes, all is fair in love and war, but the irony has not gone unnoticed. If Kuugongelwa-Amadhila truly believes Immanuel has nothing to offer, and that her so-called promises are any different to what all political parties normally spew, then let the young woman debate Swapo's candidate!
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