Independent candidate roasts PM

ILENI NANDJATO

Independent candidate for the upcoming Ondangwa Urban by-election, Angelina Immanuel, has labelled Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila as a “selfish” individual who was handed a high government post and rose to the position of a prime minister, but never created opportunities for young people.

She was responding to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s scathing remarks during a Swapo star rally in Ondangwa at the weekend.

Immanuel said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila did not deserve the post of director-general of the National Planning Commission in 1995, after she was initially appointed as a desk officer in then President Sam Nujoma office following her graduation in America.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was ironically 27 at the time, which is Immanuel’s current age. She was subsequently appointed finance minister in 2003.

“Firstly, I would like to briefly inform the prime minister that each generation has a purpose. The older generation had a purpose of politically liberating the country and our generation has a purpose of economic independence.

“Almost 24 years ago, honourable Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was given a spoon of political food and was appointed director-general of national planning.

“There was nothing special about her, not that she was more intelligent or more hardworking or more beautiful. There were others with more qualities than her - indeed many, yes many - and they are alive to testify. The only thing that happened is that she was given an opportunity,” Immanuel said.

She claimed further that the prime minister had not created opportunities for youth.

“It is either you have forgotten your own journey or we are highly mistaken. There is a word in English to describe such person. Let me say it with respect, honourable prime minister is selfish… She came to Ondangwa over the weekend to advertise her true colours.

“She came with all the S&Ts of government, all the perks, all the police, all the cars, all the fuel, and if that money is to be mathematically tabulated, the amount for her visit can easily be thousands of dollars.

“All this expenditure (was used to) intimidate me as 27-year-old who has decided to contest for a public office in line with the Regional Councils Act, Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia,” fumed Immanuel.

During the Swapo rally Kuugongelwa-Amadhila urged voters not to vote for Immanuel, saying she does not belong to any political party and is promising “heaven and earth”.

She also urged Immanuel to refrain from using Swapo colours and symbols on her campaign materials.

“My poor prime minister confused me with other Swapo members who stood as independent candidates in previous elections, which some won… The sad part though is that it had to be a fellow woman to launch an attack on a young woman. The men must be looking at us and laughing. There is a reason why they sent you to attack me,” Immanuel said.

The Swapo candidate who is contesting against Immanuel, Leonard Negonga, is a 60-year-old businessman.

Namibian Sun could not reach Kuugongelwa-Amadhila for comment.

Immanuel said further the prime minister does not know a life of renting, a life of struggling to get water, to get a toilet and to have a roof over her head.

“We must ask ourselves, why does the prime minister have so much confidence in businessman Negonga? Can she tell us, after all she was minister of finance; how the likes of Negonga became overnight millionaires? How did he make his money from being a simple employee of the ministry of health?”