Swapo vets launch new party

2007-11-17 22:48

Windhoek - Former members of Namibia's ruling SWAPO launched a new party on Saturday, vowing to fight what they called a culture of fear that had seen the country slide back into autocracy marked by collapsing public services.

Analysts say the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) represents possibly the strongest chance for political reform in Namibia, where liberation movement SWAPO led by former state president Sam Nujoma has dominated politics since independence in 1990.

SWAPO has faced little opposition since leading the diamond-rich former German colony and South African protectorate to independence.

But the country of 1.9 million people is now struggling to maintain living standards in the face of rising poverty and unemployment and widening cracks in its once highly regarded health care and school systems.

Acting RDP president Hidipo Hamutenya, a former foreign affairs minister who has resigned from SWAPO's central committee and quit his parliament seat citing lack of fresh ideas and stifling of debate, vowed to create an alternative political home for those unhappy with the party.

Mostly young supporters

"I am back and I am here to stay," he told about 700 mostly-young supporters at Independence Arena in Windhoek, a stone's throw away from SWAPO's headquarters.

Namibia urgently needed to restore its democracy and accountability and reverse negative trends that have seen international allies such as Sweden, Norway and Holland close their local embassies or downgrade then to consulates, he added.

"A culture of autocracy and all its negative manifestations had led to collapsing health and educational services, growing poverty and unemployment and a stagnant economy," Hamutenya said.

Analysts say it has yet to be seen whether the new party has the muscle to take on SWAPO, which has demanded that key officials take oaths of loyalty to the party.

"Lots of people are very happy because of the birth of this party, but they are afraid to be seen supporting them openly. SWAPO has been calling [on national radio] for RDP people to be fired from government," said Gerson Haushona, a veteran SWAPO member, at Saturday's launch.

- Reuters