Utoni wanted to go - Swartbooi
Bernadus Swartbooi says his former senior at the lands ministry, Utoni Nujoma, is a frustrated man who wanted to leave long ago.
However, according to Swartbooi, President Hage Geingob refused to move Utoni, allegedly in an attempt to frustrate him and “obliterate” the legacy of Founding President Sam Nujoma, who is Utoni's father.
Swartbooi's comments come after Utoni's remarks to a South African television station, which were broadcast last Thursday, that Swapo had no other choice but to accept the willing buyer, willing seller approach when negotiating the country's liberation.
Utoni, who was interviewed by eNCA, also said Swapo liberation fighters compromised with Western lobbyists because they were tired of fighting in the bush.
Swartbooi yesterday lambasted Swapo for fooling the Namibian nation into believing that liberation was a revolutionary process.
“Swapo was exhausted, they could no longer continue to mount any force and were essentially told (what to do) by the Western Contact Group and they abided. It was the Cubans who fought the decisive war, it was their involvement that changed the calculus,” said Swartbooi.
He also called out Geingob for giving Sam Nujoma a bravery award, saying it is an insult and a joke.
“The title given to Sam Nujoma as the leader of the Namibian revolution is a joke and a lie. The entire creation of this post-colonial Namibian government is anchored in keeping Africans underdeveloped and oppressed and to enrich a few black elite, while maintaining while privilege,” Swartbooi said.
He demanded that Utoni should leave his position voluntarily but added that it is up to the Namibian people to see right through their elected leaders, and wake up to the real Swapo.
“Or he should be fired, which Geingob will never do. He should apologise to the nation, which even if he did, he wouldn't sincerely believe in his wrongfulness. And who in this government will take on Sam's child? No one.”
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said he is not convinced that Geingob is planning to wipe out Nujoma's legacy.
“Unless Swartbooi brings more evidence, then we can see. What I do see is that the president is working on cementing his own legacy, which would speak to what he has done as a leader. But he is not trying to erase Nujoma's legacy,” he said.
JEMIMA BEUKES
However, according to Swartbooi, President Hage Geingob refused to move Utoni, allegedly in an attempt to frustrate him and “obliterate” the legacy of Founding President Sam Nujoma, who is Utoni's father.
Swartbooi's comments come after Utoni's remarks to a South African television station, which were broadcast last Thursday, that Swapo had no other choice but to accept the willing buyer, willing seller approach when negotiating the country's liberation.
Utoni, who was interviewed by eNCA, also said Swapo liberation fighters compromised with Western lobbyists because they were tired of fighting in the bush.
Swartbooi yesterday lambasted Swapo for fooling the Namibian nation into believing that liberation was a revolutionary process.
“Swapo was exhausted, they could no longer continue to mount any force and were essentially told (what to do) by the Western Contact Group and they abided. It was the Cubans who fought the decisive war, it was their involvement that changed the calculus,” said Swartbooi.
He also called out Geingob for giving Sam Nujoma a bravery award, saying it is an insult and a joke.
“The title given to Sam Nujoma as the leader of the Namibian revolution is a joke and a lie. The entire creation of this post-colonial Namibian government is anchored in keeping Africans underdeveloped and oppressed and to enrich a few black elite, while maintaining while privilege,” Swartbooi said.
He demanded that Utoni should leave his position voluntarily but added that it is up to the Namibian people to see right through their elected leaders, and wake up to the real Swapo.
“Or he should be fired, which Geingob will never do. He should apologise to the nation, which even if he did, he wouldn't sincerely believe in his wrongfulness. And who in this government will take on Sam's child? No one.”
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said he is not convinced that Geingob is planning to wipe out Nujoma's legacy.
“Unless Swartbooi brings more evidence, then we can see. What I do see is that the president is working on cementing his own legacy, which would speak to what he has done as a leader. But he is not trying to erase Nujoma's legacy,” he said.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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