McLeod-Katjirua would scrap democracy if she could

Khomas governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua says she would abolish democracy if she could because people are using it to fight the very party that brought it to Namibia – Swapo.Speaking at a party event on Saturday, the former Swapo deputy secretary general vowed to return to exile if Swapo loses power in the 2024 election.She was speaking at a meeting over the weekend to elect new party leaders in the John Pandeni constituency."Freedom and independence we brought; we brought along democracy, that same democracy that people are fighting us with. If it was possible, I was going to withdraw it," McLeod-Katjirua, also a former governor of Omaheke Region, said.‘Wake up’"DTA of yesterday, [McHenry] Venaani today is challenging us, and he is saying, &#039;I want to be the president&#039;, and some Namibians, in their little corners, are saying yes. Where did he come from?"These are challenges that are prospering against the Swapo Party. If we allow them to do that, comrades, I do not want to be part of [...] being under a different party in this country. For us to make that mistake, if we allow them, come 2025 another party is ruling this country, I will go back to exile," she said.The governor added that Namibians should not think other parties are capable of leading the country to prosperity."People have forgotten where we came from. Namibians must wake up from their [slumber] of thinking LPM, DTA (now Popular Democratic Movement), Swanu and the rest will take this country to prosperity; they could have not done it and they will not be able to do it," McLeod-Katjirua said.Paid to deliver services McLeod-Katjirua also denounced criticism that the party is not advancing service delivery, dismissing it as untrue. "I wouldn’t want to believe that any leader of the Swapo Party would deliberately not perform, while in this free country, where we are salaried, we are being paid to do that, so what would the excuse be not to perform? Absolutely not," she said.The party, she added, will not easily surrender its power to opposition political parties, as it is intent on governing Namibia."Who would want to give a chair to somebody? I wouldn’t, and that is why I am saying power is sweet. Our prime minister says Swapo will rule until Jesus comes; I agree with her because Jesus will not come," McLeod-Katjirua said.Swapo losing power was akin to Namibia inviting struggle, she warned."Are we ready to give over power in 2025? No, it’s a big, [categorical] no. How will we feel and how will they treat us? Where will we go and hide? Are we inviting another struggle? I don’t think so," she said.

McLeod-Katjirua would scrap democracy if she could

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-26

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McLeod-Katjirua would scrap democracy if she could

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-26

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