Media

Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, let me state right from on set that it is not our culture as a Party to respond to rumours. However, given the seriousness of Mr Kaapanda’s rumours we have decided to respond.   
 On the 27th January 2010, Namibia’s Minister of information Mr. Kaapanda went on the National Television to tell the nation that some of the opposition parties are engaged in what he terms ‘’as serious propaganda war campaign’’ against the SWAPO led government.

He further went on to state that currently fabricated stories which purportedly came from a SWAPO member are circulating amongst some opposition parties alleging that the founding President Mr Sam Nujoma undertook a secret trip to Saudi Arabia where he bought weapons and smuggled them into Namibia. Mr Kaapanda did not tell the people what these weapons are intended for and who would be using them.

Although the nature of Mr Kaapanda’s allegations is very serious, he did not have the courage of his conviction to tell the Namibia people and the world at large which opposition parties he was referring to. The RDP finds it strange and totally unacceptable that a Government Minister would go to the national television to politically incite the nation against opposition parties on the basis of rumour- mongering.

We in RDP therefore challenge Mr Kaapanda to tell the Namibia people which political Party/Parties he is referring to. Namibian people deserve the right to be told the truth and nothing but the truth only. He should not lie and find refuge in generalizing. The Namibia Government as we know, has the police, it has the central intelligence service and on top of that it has the spy law in place. All these arms of government must, I believe, have given Mr Kaapanda true information if his statement is anything to go by. Why should he shy away from the truth if ever what he said is true?

If, however, MR Kaapanda and his Party are engaging the retired politician in clandestine activities which, as per his own statement were exposed purportedly by a member of his Party SWAPO Party that is, then he must tell us more and stop blaming others falsely.

We in the RDP do not work underground. We are a legally registered political Party founded on the principle of the rule of law, transparency, accountability, democracy and honesty. Our only weapons are those meant to democratically fight against the failed state of education, failed state of health care, the sky rocketing unemployment, corruption and to unite the Namibian people into a truly one Namibia One Nation thereby, rescuing them from the bondage of state sponsored intimidation and harassment as perpetrated by SWAPO ruling Party.

Finally, Mr Kaapanda should know that neither his hatred of chastising the opposition parties nor his frustration of his Party’s failure to maintain unity within itself will remedy the deplorable situation within his Party.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press thank you for listening.