Swapo Party Vice President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has informed the party's Central Committee members that they were meeting at the backdrop of a major event to unfold on the country's political landscape. 

She was addressing the first ordinary Central Committee meeting of the year.

In her address, Nandi-Ndaitwah lambasted Germany's ambassador to Namibia, who allegedly discussed Namibia-EU relations on behalf of the European Union.

"The same embassy went further to say that a particular leader of the opposition is widely projected to be the next president of Namibia. What a diplomatic statement, particularly from a country with whom we still have a serious pending issue. By extension, there may be a strategy to interfere in our elections, as a statement has the smell of an element of regime change."

Referring to what she termed verbal attacks on the Swapo Party from some political parties to the extent that some of their attacks can be interpreted as a direct call to war and military confrontation, Nandi-Ndaitwah told the Central Committee that the ruling party is looking forward to a peaceful election campaign. 

"For the sake of our country and its people, I am appealing to all of us that, in the face of the provocations, we must remain focused and true to our country and its people. As we will only be able to remain responsible to our country and its people if we are united against all detractors, the only way we can safeguard our independence and sovereignty is to continue to be relevant members of the international community."

Turning to the national drought that is threatening the agriculture sector, Nandi-Ndaitwah told the central committee members that the country is facing a severe drought. 

This time around, she said, the drought is affecting most SADC countries, to the extent that Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe have declared it a natural disaster.

"I can assure you that our government is committed to working out strategies to mitigate the impact of the drought. However, these strategies will only be successful if the administrators who administer the programmes work and ensure that they deliver the services to the intended beneficiaries." 

In the run-up to the November National Assembly and Presidential elections, she called on the rank and file of the party to intensify their engagements with the people.