Stop insulting Geingob: Nekongo

WINDHOEK, 27 Apr – Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) secretary Ephraim Nekongo has come in defence of President Hage Geingob, urging the latter’s antagonists to bring forth solutions rather than insults.
Since taking office three years ago, Geingob has fallen prey to insults and criticism for Namibia’s woes, particularly on the country’s teetering economy.
In an interview with Nampa on Thursday, Nekongo said Geingob was “not the problem”.
“Our people are continuously insulting the president; this is the first president that is being insulted like this,” said Nekongo.
He said Geingob has an open-door policy and is the most accessible Head of State Namibia has ever seen.
“Why don’t they take their issues to State House? What is the problem? Insults will not solve anything. If it’s an issue of politics, those who were defeated must accept defeat,” he said.
According to Nekongo, there are channels in place to raise matters of national concern, as opposed to the use of social media to air grievances, something Namibians have become used to.
The SPYL secretary, however, was quick to mention that he respects opinions of those who disagree with him.
“I am not saying don’t criticise, but don’t criticise with insults,” he emphasised.
Nekongo then downplayed assertions by critics that the SPYL of old is no more, and what is left is a submissive puppet-like entity serving at the behest of the mother body and those at its top echelons.
He said: “People will always be entitled to their opinion. We have been making interventions, we just don’t publicise them, because we are not in a popularity contest. We are not hand clappers, but those who perceive us that way, that’s their own opinion.”
He added: “As much as we talk about those who are radical, what has radicalism brought for us so far? Nothing. They said they are going to give us land. But, where are we now?”
Furthermore, Nekongo’s capability to lead the SPYL has also been under the spotlight, especially his academic background.
He maintained that he was not wheelbarrowed into the position.
“That is rubbish. I earned my spot. There was no strategy (to propel me). I was elected. There’s nothing that was violated,” he defended his position.
(NAMPA)