Individuals corrupt, not Swapo: Shaningwa
KENYA KAMBOWE
RUNDU
Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa has reiterated her party’s recent stance that looting of state resources by individual party members did not mean the former liberation movement itself is corrupt.
The party neither instructs its members to steal, nor does it benefit from such theft of national resources, Shaningwa told a party mini-rally at Rundu on Saturday.
Swapo has been engulfed in allegations of corruption, having allegedly benefited from the so-called Fishrot scandal.
The fact that the party continues to assign its members convicted of corruption to address party campaign rallies has done little to change perceptions of a movement riddled with thievery.
Shaningwa said Swapo has fought, and will continue to fight, against corruption and those implicated will face the wrath of the law.
The party has jacked up its campaigning ahead of the regional and local authority elections slated for 25 November.
“The Swapo Party-led government remains committed and will continue to fight corruption,” Shaningwa said.
“These people, the political opponents of Swapo, always call our party and our government corrupt. Swapo Party and the government of Namibia are not corrupt but who is corrupt are perhaps individuals and if an individual is corrupt the law will take it course,” she told the gathering of about 400 party supporters.
In November last year, justice minister Sacky Shanghala, a rising star in Swapo, and his fisheries counterpart Bernardt Esau were arrested for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for fishing quotas.
The two Swapo politicians remain behind bars, nearly a year later, while awaiting trial.
The Bank of Namibia last month said it had detected Fishrot-related transactions worth N$10 billion.
Last year, education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa had to resign after she was convicted of corruption.
“We have to deal with people who are corrupt. If the secretary-general is corrupt, deal with the secretary general but don’t say that the Swapo Party is corrupt,” Shaningwa emphasised.
Development
Shaningwa also used the opportunity to denounce the notion that Swapo has not done enough to develop the country during its 30 years in power.
She accused those who make such statements of being jealous and eager to unseat the ruling party.
“Today we are being told that 30 years down the history of the country nothing has happened; why are we jealous?” Shaningwa remarked.
“Why don’t we say the truth? Why don’t we appreciate? Yes, I understand it’s politics but why should you divert from the truth?
“Let us agree that something has happened and let us appreciate that the Swapo-led government has brought development. Markets are here, our people are getting employment. Schools are here, tertiary institutions are here, our children are getting educated but you are telling me that nothing has happened, what a pity that you cannot see!
“When we returned from exile, people only received N$30 [in old-age pension grants] but today our elderly are receiving N$1 300 per month, and still you are saying Swapo is led by people without heart. Who has a heart if not Swapo leaders?”
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RUNDU
Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa has reiterated her party’s recent stance that looting of state resources by individual party members did not mean the former liberation movement itself is corrupt.
The party neither instructs its members to steal, nor does it benefit from such theft of national resources, Shaningwa told a party mini-rally at Rundu on Saturday.
Swapo has been engulfed in allegations of corruption, having allegedly benefited from the so-called Fishrot scandal.
The fact that the party continues to assign its members convicted of corruption to address party campaign rallies has done little to change perceptions of a movement riddled with thievery.
Shaningwa said Swapo has fought, and will continue to fight, against corruption and those implicated will face the wrath of the law.
The party has jacked up its campaigning ahead of the regional and local authority elections slated for 25 November.
“The Swapo Party-led government remains committed and will continue to fight corruption,” Shaningwa said.
“These people, the political opponents of Swapo, always call our party and our government corrupt. Swapo Party and the government of Namibia are not corrupt but who is corrupt are perhaps individuals and if an individual is corrupt the law will take it course,” she told the gathering of about 400 party supporters.
In November last year, justice minister Sacky Shanghala, a rising star in Swapo, and his fisheries counterpart Bernardt Esau were arrested for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for fishing quotas.
The two Swapo politicians remain behind bars, nearly a year later, while awaiting trial.
The Bank of Namibia last month said it had detected Fishrot-related transactions worth N$10 billion.
Last year, education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa had to resign after she was convicted of corruption.
“We have to deal with people who are corrupt. If the secretary-general is corrupt, deal with the secretary general but don’t say that the Swapo Party is corrupt,” Shaningwa emphasised.
Development
Shaningwa also used the opportunity to denounce the notion that Swapo has not done enough to develop the country during its 30 years in power.
She accused those who make such statements of being jealous and eager to unseat the ruling party.
“Today we are being told that 30 years down the history of the country nothing has happened; why are we jealous?” Shaningwa remarked.
“Why don’t we say the truth? Why don’t we appreciate? Yes, I understand it’s politics but why should you divert from the truth?
“Let us agree that something has happened and let us appreciate that the Swapo-led government has brought development. Markets are here, our people are getting employment. Schools are here, tertiary institutions are here, our children are getting educated but you are telling me that nothing has happened, what a pity that you cannot see!
“When we returned from exile, people only received N$30 [in old-age pension grants] but today our elderly are receiving N$1 300 per month, and still you are saying Swapo is led by people without heart. Who has a heart if not Swapo leaders?”
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