The Congress of the Republican Party held on Saturday 18 September 2004 was well attended by delegates from as far as Caprivi in the north to Aroab in the south and was marked by enthusiasm and a notable prevalence of dignity, racial harmony and mutual respect for each other. In short, the congress was a tremendous success!

The fact that only 20% of the delegates to this watershed congress were from the white sector of the Namibian population should once and for all prove that the RP has, within a short period of time, succeeded in establishing itself as a party representing the total spectrum of the Namibian population. Any further accusations that the RP is a party for the whites only, will be viewed as malicious and not worth any further reaction.

The President of the Republican Party of Namibia has stated on numerous occasions that although he harbours no political aspirations for himself, he has a vision for a prosperous, peaceful and truly free Namibia. For this reason he has agreed to lead the Republican Party which carries that vision.

Prior to the RP Congress of 18 September 2004 Mr Mudge had not contemplated to participate in the Presidential race in the November 2004 Elections.

But events took a turn at the Congress.

Mr. Henk Mudge was unanimously and uncontested re-elected as the RP President. When the Congress dealt with the issue of the nomination of candidates for the forthcoming elections, strong appeals came from the floor advocating the nomination of the RP President to contest the November 2004 Presidential Elections. This proposal was based on the concept that the RP should not endeavor to simply remain an opposition party, but should avail itself to the Namibian Nation as a trustworthy future government and that includes the fielding of a Presidential Candidate.

Mr Geoffrey Chilinda, our Town Councillor in Katima Mulilo and newly elected Vice-President motivated the proposal as follows:

"The Congress felt that the RP is a Namibian political party, which was properly registered according to the laws of our country. Black Namibians had - and continue to have - all the time and opportunity to join the RP. It is NOT a white party and every Namibian citizen is entitled to join the political party of his / her choice.

Fourteen years after independence there should be no restriction on bona fide whites participating in Namibian politics. Why should Namibians only be allowed to vote for a party under black leadership? Why should whites stand back and let black Namibians fill political positions exclusively? This would mean that we still have not achieved true freedom, no freedom of expression and no freedom of association. The Republican Party has triumphed and can now demonstrate that it has matured as a political party which is not prepared to take decisions contrary to the true will of its members just to be politically correct.

Therefore there is no reason for our President not to be nominated as Presidential candidate during the November 2004 elections. Mr Henk Mudge is the one who should lead the RP and who should – for that matter – lead the country.

It is about time that we realise that the political liberation struggle is over, now we must fight for economic liberation. The RP is capable of taking up this challenge and the RP policies can be well articulated by Mr. Mudge. Therefore it is appropriate, that he contests the Presidential Elections. The RP is definitely in the race."

The Republican Party’s Congress thus accepted the following proposal unanimously: The President of the Republican Party, Mr. Henk Mudge will be nominated as the Republican Party’s Presidential candidate for the November 2004 elections.

Mr. Henk Mudge accepted the Congress’s proposal and vowed to do whatever necessary to further the RP’s course in finding solutions to the problems of poverty and unemployment to help build a better Namibia. He said that in due course friend and foe will realize that the RP is a party with integrity and one that can be trusted to truly liberate the Namibian people.

Carola Engelbrecht

RP Secretary-General