I never made congress remarks - Nujoma
RIGHT OF REPLY
Founding president Sam Nujoma has distanced himself from remarks attributed to him and published in Namibian Sun yesterday, in which he was said to have urged clean Swapo campaigns and avoiding factionalism ahead of congress.
Two prepared speeches bearing the Sam Nujoma Foundation letterhead purport that the remarks were prepared for the special meeting of the Swapo politburo held at State House on 17 May and the central committee meeting held last weekend.
The 17 May speech appealed for the party to appear as a united front, citing past divisions as a result of elective congresses. It also called for democratic and transparent elections “without using money to buy votes”.
While it is not in dispute that Nujoma attended the meetings, his lawyer Sisa Namandje said the former head of state never delivered the speeches.
“Our instructions are that our client never uttered such statements at the Swapo central committee meeting held over the weekend. As a fact, our client never denounced anyone, nor did he suggest ‘vote buying’ in [Swapo] intra-party campaigns,” he said.
“Our instructions are that your article appears to have been motivated by a malice-induced urge, on your part and [that of] your sources, to use our client’s name and position to divide the Swapo Party and to advance such sources’ ill-willed political goals,” the lawyer added.
Two prepared speeches bearing the Sam Nujoma Foundation letterhead purport that the remarks were prepared for the special meeting of the Swapo politburo held at State House on 17 May and the central committee meeting held last weekend.
The 17 May speech appealed for the party to appear as a united front, citing past divisions as a result of elective congresses. It also called for democratic and transparent elections “without using money to buy votes”.
While it is not in dispute that Nujoma attended the meetings, his lawyer Sisa Namandje said the former head of state never delivered the speeches.
“Our instructions are that our client never uttered such statements at the Swapo central committee meeting held over the weekend. As a fact, our client never denounced anyone, nor did he suggest ‘vote buying’ in [Swapo] intra-party campaigns,” he said.
“Our instructions are that your article appears to have been motivated by a malice-induced urge, on your part and [that of] your sources, to use our client’s name and position to divide the Swapo Party and to advance such sources’ ill-willed political goals,” the lawyer added.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article