Swapo not an Owambo party - Geingob

President Hage Geingob says Swapo is not an “Owambo party” and must be a home to all Namibians. Speaking at a Swapo star rally in Keetmanshoop over the weekend, Geingob urged Namibians to “play the ball” and talk about ideas and issues, while refraining from personal attacks. “Talk about our failures and what you are offering. That way people will see who has a better programme. Come with ideas. We launched our manifesto, which is our CV saying what we have done. We will continue with what we have done if you give us five more years,” Geingob said. He said Swapo adopted a policy of national reconciliation because it did not want anybody to feel left out and not because of weakness. “Those who do not want to come [onboard], that is their business. We are saying we want to unite Namibia's people, whether you are black, white or yellow. No one must feel left out, unless they lock themselves out. “Now we are coming back with OPO (the Ovamboland People's Organisation). OPO was transformed into Swapo. With OPO we thought only Oshiwambo-speaking people were oppressed and we realised all of us were oppressed. We changed to Swapo,” he said. Geingob's remarks come in response to Landless People's Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi's utterances that Swapo is only promoting the interests of the Aawambo. In 2017 Swartbooi, a former Swapo governor, deputy minister and MP, said he was proud to leave the “Ovamboland People's Organisation”. “When you meet me next time, I am neither an honourable nor a comrade. I am, I was, I will be, till death does me apart, Bernadus Swartbooi.” jemima@namibiansun.comJEMIMA BEUKES

Swapo not an Owambo party - Geingob

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

Please login to leave a comment

Swapo not an Owambo party - Geingob

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

Please login to leave a comment

Login