Zanu-PF relations with SWAPO will 'backfire'

Namibian opposition party, Affirmative Repositioning (AR), has accused Zimbabwe's ruling party, Zanu-PF, of meddling in the country's recent elections, alleging that the party leveraged its alliance with the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) to influence the electoral process.

AR leader Job Amupanda, speaking at a press conference on Monday, warned that Zanu-PF's involvement could have long-term repercussions for SWAPO, Namibia's ruling party.

Amupanda claimed Zanu-PF is taking sides within SWAPO's internal factions and could destabilize the ruling party in the long term.

"Zanu-PF will side with one faction of the ruling party and will create a lot of chaos. The factions are already visible. It's easier to enjoy the funny things happening now, but it will backfire," said Amupanda.

Amupanda also pointed to Zanu-PF supporters celebrating SWAPO candidate Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah's premature victory over the weekend, even before the official election results were announced by Namibia's electoral commission.

The AR leader expressed concern over Zanu-PF's alleged infiltration into Namibia's systems.

"Zanu-PF is going to integrate itself into our intelligence, civil society, and all facets of our society. When the factions within SWAPO escalate and the party loses power, Zanu-PF will simply align with the nearest available political party," Amupanda said.

Zanu-PF's involvement in regional affairs has previously sparked controversy. Allegations have surfaced of Zanu-PF members voting in Mozambique's elections, raising concerns about the party's influence in Southern Africa.

The controversy escalated over the weekend when George Charamba, the spokesperson for Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, prematurely celebrated Nandi Ndaitwah's apparent victory. This drew criticism from Amupanda, who suggested that Zanu-PF was more vocal about SWAPO's success than SWAPO members themselves.

"You can't have Zanu-PF people on social media celebrating SWAPO's victory while SWAPO members remain silent," Amupanda said.

Amupanda warned SWAPO of the potential dangers of aligning too closely with Zanu-PF.

"One day, SWAPO will remember this warning. You might think you have a strategy to rig elections with Zanu-PF's help, but in the long run, this will be damaging. Zanu-PF's interference will be felt deeply when the consequences unfold," he cautioned.

The allegations highlight growing concerns over Zanu-PF's role in regional politics, raising questions about the broader implications for political stability and democratic processes in Southern Africa.