RDP slams Swapo, government over Kora millions

The Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) has come out of hibernation, slamming the ruling Swapo party and government over millions invested in the cancelled Kora All-Africa Music Awards. RDP warned President Geingob over alleged corruption and self-enrichment taking place under his “watchful eyes” and said “people are not fools, and the blind will not remain blind forever”. Namibian Sun has revealed how the Namibian Tourism Board bought a marketing package from the Kora’s owners which cost taxpayers more than N$20 million. The awards were initially scheduled for 21 April but were postponed amid controversy. Organisers however blamed the postponement on an inability to get clearance to have the dome, in which the ceremony was supposed to be held, across the border from South Africa to Namibia. Recently, tourism minister, Pohamba Shifeta said government is assessing how much money was used and how much should be returned to Namibia. In a press statement, RDP secretary for information Nghiningilwandubo Kashume called on Geingob to immediately launch an investigation on the so-called promotional marketing of Namibia by the Kora All-Africa Music Awards. Referring to the awards as a money-laundering scheme, RDP said without proper investigation, the country will not know the magnitude of the money lost.“It is possible that other ministries, agencies and offices have also fallen victim to such fraudulent schemes and the money lost might be running into thousands of millions of dollars, far more than what is reported,” RDP said. The former official opposition warned the Swapo-led government that the fact that people are suffering in silence, should not be interpreted as accepting and approving of what it calls misrule and corrupt governance. “The Swapo-led government is notorious for its lack of accountability, particularly when it comes to the stealing of public resources. Those who stole billions from GIPF, millions from social security, those who stole from the Ministry of Finance and now, from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, are scot-free and are not held accountable. What the hell is going on,” Kashume said. Kashume added that the nation is stressed and angry. “The nation’s distress, stress, and anger have gone up considerably, such that it is highly risky for the Swapo-led government to continue taking the intelligence of people for granted. For the fact that people are not fools, and the blind will not remain blind forever,” he said.“We call on the president to launch an investigation, establish the magnitude, find the money and pay it back, and arrest the culprits,” RDP said. GORDON JOSEPH

RDP slams Swapo, government over Kora millions

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-22

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RDP slams Swapo, government over Kora millions

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-22

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