Swapo never failed
Swapo never failed

Swapo food handouts to scavengers slammed

Party accused of having no shame
The ruling party came in for heavy criticism after its widely publicised lunch packs for homeless scavengers at a Windhoek dumpsite.
Jemima Beukes
Analysts and social media users yesterday took on Swapo for ‘treating symptoms’ of hunger rather than decisively dealing with this social challenge after the ruling party delivered lunch packs for homeless people who scavenge for spoilt food at the Kupferberg dumpsite in Windhoek.

The Swapo Windhoek West branch also delivered the food to the scavengers over the weekend, in the presence of the media.

Social media users feel that, as the ruling party charged with the responsibility of taking care of citizens, Swapo’s handouts were ‘pathetic’.

“They were just fed for a day. They will go back to their norms in a day’s time,” one Twitter user said.

Another one said: “They will be hungry again tomorrow.”

“Swapo must give people hopes, not this one day meal like funeral foods,” another commented.

Other users juxtaposed the handouts to the party’s new N$700 million headquarters, saying the two scenarios where a country mile apart.

That there are people living under such condition pointed to Swapo’s failed leadership for the past 32 year, some argued, especially in terms of both housing and the provision of jobs.

Can't be blamed

Lucia Witbooi, Swapo member of parliament, said the ruling party cannot be blamed for the lack of decent housing and sanitation which has landed hundreds of Namibians on dumpsites such as Windhoek's Kupferberg landfill.

Witbooi, who on Sunday led a team of Swapo cadres to share food with the homeless in a belated celebration of Independence Day, told Namibian Sun that Swapo has done a lot to uplift the Namibian people and giving food to people is not wrong.

“There is a reason why we should celebrate the 32nd Independence Day. We cannot say there is no reason to celebrate,” she said.

Before the food was handed out, the introductions and official programme included repeating Swapo’s mantra “Swapo, Swapo, now, now, hard work".

Asked why the party has failed to provide the settlers with access to water, housing and sanitation it the last 30 years, a demand the group repeated when Swapo paid the visit on Sunday, Witbooi insisted the party had never failed.

Instead she felt their misery was self-created because they "left their parents' houses" in other towns to settle at the Kupferberg landfill.

“Why are you always blaming Swapo? We are not hiding that we have not done enough, but Swapo never failed. Write that down. Swapo never failed. Why did they come from their homes?

"Giving them food is not wrong; food is a basic need and the councillors will now use this as an opportunity to see how they can engage the community,” she said.

Witbooi is aware of the community living at the dumpsite having no toilets and no clean water, but is convinced that Swapo will save the day.

“Rome was not built in one day. Now is the opportunity for us to see how we can help them. If you can see there are still challenges that need to be addressed by the relevant structures from the local and regional and national leadership,” she said.

Out of touch

Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said Sunday’s lunch packs were an insult to people who have bigger issues to deal with.

According to him, it is proof that the ruling party has completely lost touch with what is going on at grassroots level.

“The question they should ask themselves as a ruling party is, why are the people suffering like this after 32 years? It seems like a little political driven process which is also insensitive.

"Here is the party celebrating Independence and they have known under what conditions these people are scavenging and instead of celebrating achievements they go to a spot where all the suffering is.

"The question is, where were you in addressing that suffering during your existence as a party and now you want to use it as a marketing tool to be seen doing something,” he said.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-14

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