By: Uakutra Kambaekua – Opuwo

Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) president Mike Kavekotora says that coalition talks are on the table with other parties as they seek to defeat the ruling Swapo party amid the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Kavekotora, in an exclusive interview with The Villager, stated that a coalition amongst oppositions is imperative if they are to defeat the ruling party, adding that there are talks of a confederacy amongst opposition parties.

“There are talks for possible coalition formation, but the core objective is to better Namibian lives. Swapo failed to deliver to the expectation of the majority of Namibian people, our economy is not performing, and service delivery is down the drain. The Namibian people deserve better, and the only way, in my view, is for us to form a formidable coalition to make sure we fight and achieve what the Namibian people have been looking for, a better life,” stressed Kavekotora.

He also said that leaders should do away with egocentric ethos, noting that leaders should come together as one and speak one language if they are to deliver for the Namibian people. “We ought to do away with this selfishness of the question of wanting to be the party’s president, and therefore simply because of the fact that, ‘I am the president of the party. I don’t want to have a coalition because I might not be the President.’ Politics is not for individuals. Politics is a vehicle that has to carry the population’s interest to a better situation. I hope that most of our political party leaders will acknowledge the fact that for us to deliver to the expectations of the Namibian people, we need to have a coalition,” added Kavekotora.

Queried on his party’s plans en route to the elections, Kavekotora said that the party has kicked off with members’ recruitment to help in preparation for the launching of the campaign. He said the party will host its National Executive Committee meeting in Rundu in mid-June which will determine the exact date of the campaign launch.

He also stressed the shortage of resources at their disposal, noting that they have to be cautious when utilising the small resources that they have.

Furthermore, Kavekotora mentioned that the party’s presence is in all regions and thus is confident that they will be able to get enough seats in the National Assembly. He also said that the abolishment of Electronic Voting Machines has now made the election process fair as it was like a jackpot and unreliable.

 

NEFF ECONOMIC COMMISSAR, AR ACTIVIST IMPRISONMENT

Kavekotora also reiterated that his party has thrown its weight behind the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters’ (NEFF) economic commissar, Michael Amushelelo and the Affirmative Repositioning movement’s activist Dimbulukeni Nauyoma.

The two were imprisoned following their protest against Chinese businesses trading in counterfeit goods.

He added that the government should be fair if they are serious about defeating the distribution of counterfeit products, noting that it’s unfair for the government to destroy the products of people who are trying to make a living.

He also said that the government should penalise the Chinese the same way as Namibians as they are the sole distributers of fake or counterfeit products.

Kavekotora also questioned what the Namibian government owes China to give them preferential treatment at the expense of Namibians. “If you look at how China was allowed to rape this country, look at all the construction work. It’s done by the Chinese. All tenders are for the Chinese. This shows that this government owes China something which is detrimental to the Namibian people,” he said.

The RDP leader said that the government have not put policies in place that favours Namibians but has policies that favour the Chinese, adding the Chinese have a long term plan of capturing Africa while its leaders are sleeping.