Nujoma punts successor at rally
2004-11-13 21:36
Windhoek - Thousands of party faithful turned out for Namibia's final election rally on Saturday, with Namibian President Sam Nujoma using the opportunity to punt his handpicked successor, certain to be chosen as the arid country's next president.
Almost a million voters in the vast southwest African country of 1.82 million people will cast their ballots in presidential and national elections on Monday and Tuesday with Nujoma's South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) party expected to win with a wide majority.
"Comrade (Hifikepunye) Pohamba is a tested leader who participated in all fronts during the struggle for liberation of our country from apartheid colonial occupation," Nujoma told some 6 000 Swapo supporters, who braved a rain-drenched Windhoek to attend the rally.
"On Monday and Tuesday ... we will all wake up at five o'clock to ensure we are first in line to vote for comrade Hifikepunye Pohamba," Nujoma said to applause from the audience, many of then wearing T-shirts and dresses sporting the blue, red and green party colours.
Nujoma, the founding president of Namibia at independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990, will be stepping down next year after a third term in office and is expected to be followed by Pohamba, a fellow liberation struggle veteran.
Pohamba, 69, is expected to continue governing the country the same way as Nujoma, who is to formally hand over power in March.
As lands minister, Pohamba has moved toward the expropriation of white commercial farmers although no land has been seized so far and he has reassured farm owners that just compensation will be paid.
Job creation a hot issue
Dressed in a Swapo golf shirt and wearing a red party hat, Pohamba sat side-by-side with a relaxed-looking Nujoma, 75, at the rally held in the capital's Katutura township, a few kilometres north of the city centre.
"I will keep your legacy by continuing to maintain stability and are more than prepared to continue with this challenge," Pohamba said in his address, adding he "will embark on the road to continue and accelerate social and economic development in the country."
"I, together with the collective Swapo leadership will serve the people of Namibia to ensure economic growth," he said.
During his speech, Nujoma listed some of the achievements by his government, dominated by his ruling Swapo party since independence and which won some 76% of the vote during the last elections in 1999.
Nujoma pledged that the government would continue with its work.
Job creation is turning out to be one of the hottest election issues, with unemployment in the country estimated at between 30 to 40%.
- AFP