Stop being voting cows, APP tells Kavangos
• Voters remain loyal despite suffering
Muchila also rubbished claims that the party is on the verge of collapse since the death of its founder and the expulsion of its secretary-general.
All People’s Party (APP) national chairperson Linus Muchila says the practice of using the people of the Kavango regions for their votes during elections and forgetting about them afterwards should come to an end.
He made the remark at a recent public meeting in Rundu where the party enlisted about 700 new members.
His sentiments come as political parties have failed to turn the Kavango regions’ misfortunes around after past elections, he said.
He added that the majority of registered voters have shown consistent loyalty to the ruling Swapo Party - despite their high levels of poverty and unemployment, and the snail pace of development.
“Kavangos should not succumb to being used as voting cows during elections and being forgotten, only to return the next election time,” Muchila said.
“These regions must now stand up with determination and rather prove the fact that they are indeed a determinant factor in Namibian politics.
“I call upon all Kavangos to rally behind the APP to have a formidable voice in parliament. APP is your home political party - all political parties in Namibia have their support bases and Kavango is the support base of the APP,” he said.
Poorest regions
The two Kavango regions are the poorest in the country in terms of access to basic services and regional development.
Political commentators and opposition parties have often argued that residents in these regions continue to be neglected by the Swapo-led government – despite turning up in numbers to vote for that party.
Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa earlier this year strongly denied allegations that the ruling party uses residents of the Kavango regions as voting cows.
APP not dead
Meanwhile, Muchila also rubbished claims that the party is on the verge of collapse since the death of its founder Ignatius Shixwameni and the expulsion of secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu.
“At a press conference held on Monday, 21 August, we explicitly informed the nation that the party would not be affected by the expulsion of the former secretary-general. We knew very well that he was not a factor, neither was he instrumental in the party,” he said.
“Though many thought the party will be weak without him, today’s meeting is testament that the APP continues to grow stronger across the country."
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He made the remark at a recent public meeting in Rundu where the party enlisted about 700 new members.
His sentiments come as political parties have failed to turn the Kavango regions’ misfortunes around after past elections, he said.
He added that the majority of registered voters have shown consistent loyalty to the ruling Swapo Party - despite their high levels of poverty and unemployment, and the snail pace of development.
“Kavangos should not succumb to being used as voting cows during elections and being forgotten, only to return the next election time,” Muchila said.
“These regions must now stand up with determination and rather prove the fact that they are indeed a determinant factor in Namibian politics.
“I call upon all Kavangos to rally behind the APP to have a formidable voice in parliament. APP is your home political party - all political parties in Namibia have their support bases and Kavango is the support base of the APP,” he said.
Poorest regions
The two Kavango regions are the poorest in the country in terms of access to basic services and regional development.
Political commentators and opposition parties have often argued that residents in these regions continue to be neglected by the Swapo-led government – despite turning up in numbers to vote for that party.
Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa earlier this year strongly denied allegations that the ruling party uses residents of the Kavango regions as voting cows.
APP not dead
Meanwhile, Muchila also rubbished claims that the party is on the verge of collapse since the death of its founder Ignatius Shixwameni and the expulsion of secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu.
“At a press conference held on Monday, 21 August, we explicitly informed the nation that the party would not be affected by the expulsion of the former secretary-general. We knew very well that he was not a factor, neither was he instrumental in the party,” he said.
“Though many thought the party will be weak without him, today’s meeting is testament that the APP continues to grow stronger across the country."
[email protected]
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