Swapo wants Erongo back under its control
Prodigal son Ipinge returns
Following a bruising defeat during the 2020 elections in Erongo, Swapo wants to regain its dominance in the region.
The ruling party has set its sights on Erongo as it prepares to reclaim political dominance in the country’s most industrial region.
This was the overriding message communicated to thousands of its followers who thronged the Kuisemond stadium in Walvis Bay to attend the party’s star rally. Swapo’s leadership remained adamant that ‘getting Erongo back’ was a top priority during the 27 November polls, with secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa expressing her desire to see the party reclaim its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.
“Erongo should be reclaimed in the regional and local authority councils. It has been reported to me that we have been chased left, right and centre since Thursday when we wanted to erect our tent, because we do not have representatives in the council. It is high time that the residents of the Erongo Region are mobilised, moving forward in the spirit of our late veteran Nathaniel Maxuilili, to bring Walvis Bay back to the Swapo Party,” she said.
Swapo vice-president and presidential candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah urged those who have left the party to “just come back home”.
“We can all fit into this Swapo Party family; all of you are invited to come back. And those who are not yet part of Swapo, please join. It is a family you will remain a part of for the rest of your life.”
Key trading gateway
During a speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised the importance of managing the Erongo Region in a way that would bring prosperity to the entire nation, given its status as a key trading gateway to the world. “We should therefore make sure that, come 27 November, the Swapo Party has won overwhelmingly in the Erongo Region. We must claim back Erongo. You must do better, Erongo. Seeing you come out in numbers like this makes me more confident, more committed and convinced that I will be able to lead this country to prosperity.”
She said, during the liberation struggle, the common goal was to free the country.
“Today, our common goal is to liberate our country economically. We are too few to be poor, we are too few to be hungry. I am not making promises, but I am saying I am committed, and I want everyone to be committed so that Namibia can occupy her rightful position internationally and become a country that can rely on its own resources and feed its own people. The foundation built is strong enough.”
She further highlighted projects in the region that have been completed or are still in progress.
“Who says we are not delivering? In terms of road networks, the road behind Dune 7, the Hifikepunye Pohamba Highway, was commissioned in 2022. The construction of low-volume bitumen roads in the Okombahe settlement is ready for commissioning. The maintenance of the Arandis bitumen roads and the Henties Bay-Uis-Kamanjab road, once completed, will connect Erongo to the rest of northern Namibia.”
Take education seriously
Regarding education, Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed she does not want to lead an illiterate society. “In Namibia, we still talk about skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled workers - that is underdevelopment. We really need to take education seriously. We are happy that at least 98% of Namibian children have access to education, and we are working on the quality of our education. To address the rise in learner numbers from 2023 to 2024, more teachers were hired and additional classrooms and ablution blocks were built in the region's schools."
The presidential hopeful emphasised that she is an implementer. “Go check my track record. I don’t just like to talk, I like to do. I am not afraid to take calculated risks. Let us go out to defend our democracy and independence and protect our people from possible exploitation. Let them know their better future is in the hands of Swapo.”
Prodigal son returns
Meanwhile, Swapo also welcomed the return of one of its prodigal sons, Knowledge Ipinge, to the party.
Erongo governor Neville Andre Itope announced the return of the former Walvis Bay urban constituency councillor, much to the delight of those in attendance.
“I just want to say that I am back home, and my job is to campaign. Let’s campaign for Swapo, let’s campaign for our candidates, and ensure that we win back Walvis Bay, win back Erongo and take this country forward,” Ipinge said.
This was the overriding message communicated to thousands of its followers who thronged the Kuisemond stadium in Walvis Bay to attend the party’s star rally. Swapo’s leadership remained adamant that ‘getting Erongo back’ was a top priority during the 27 November polls, with secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa expressing her desire to see the party reclaim its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.
“Erongo should be reclaimed in the regional and local authority councils. It has been reported to me that we have been chased left, right and centre since Thursday when we wanted to erect our tent, because we do not have representatives in the council. It is high time that the residents of the Erongo Region are mobilised, moving forward in the spirit of our late veteran Nathaniel Maxuilili, to bring Walvis Bay back to the Swapo Party,” she said.
Swapo vice-president and presidential candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah urged those who have left the party to “just come back home”.
“We can all fit into this Swapo Party family; all of you are invited to come back. And those who are not yet part of Swapo, please join. It is a family you will remain a part of for the rest of your life.”
Key trading gateway
During a speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised the importance of managing the Erongo Region in a way that would bring prosperity to the entire nation, given its status as a key trading gateway to the world. “We should therefore make sure that, come 27 November, the Swapo Party has won overwhelmingly in the Erongo Region. We must claim back Erongo. You must do better, Erongo. Seeing you come out in numbers like this makes me more confident, more committed and convinced that I will be able to lead this country to prosperity.”
She said, during the liberation struggle, the common goal was to free the country.
“Today, our common goal is to liberate our country economically. We are too few to be poor, we are too few to be hungry. I am not making promises, but I am saying I am committed, and I want everyone to be committed so that Namibia can occupy her rightful position internationally and become a country that can rely on its own resources and feed its own people. The foundation built is strong enough.”
She further highlighted projects in the region that have been completed or are still in progress.
“Who says we are not delivering? In terms of road networks, the road behind Dune 7, the Hifikepunye Pohamba Highway, was commissioned in 2022. The construction of low-volume bitumen roads in the Okombahe settlement is ready for commissioning. The maintenance of the Arandis bitumen roads and the Henties Bay-Uis-Kamanjab road, once completed, will connect Erongo to the rest of northern Namibia.”
Take education seriously
Regarding education, Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed she does not want to lead an illiterate society. “In Namibia, we still talk about skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled workers - that is underdevelopment. We really need to take education seriously. We are happy that at least 98% of Namibian children have access to education, and we are working on the quality of our education. To address the rise in learner numbers from 2023 to 2024, more teachers were hired and additional classrooms and ablution blocks were built in the region's schools."
The presidential hopeful emphasised that she is an implementer. “Go check my track record. I don’t just like to talk, I like to do. I am not afraid to take calculated risks. Let us go out to defend our democracy and independence and protect our people from possible exploitation. Let them know their better future is in the hands of Swapo.”
Prodigal son returns
Meanwhile, Swapo also welcomed the return of one of its prodigal sons, Knowledge Ipinge, to the party.
Erongo governor Neville Andre Itope announced the return of the former Walvis Bay urban constituency councillor, much to the delight of those in attendance.
“I just want to say that I am back home, and my job is to campaign. Let’s campaign for Swapo, let’s campaign for our candidates, and ensure that we win back Walvis Bay, win back Erongo and take this country forward,” Ipinge said.
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