Windhoek — POLICE had to intervene to avert potential violence between Swapo and Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) supporters in Katutura on Saturday.

Tensions flared when Swapo prevented a planned RDP branch meeting from taking place along Ongete Street in Okuryangava township.

Swapo leaders defied Police requests to leave so that the RDP rally could take place, and a number of RDP members had to be given Police protection to ensure their safety.

The RDP later called off the meeting to avoid potential bloodshed, a RDP leader told reporters yesterday.

The party had notified the Police of the meeting ahead of the event - in a letter to Chief Inspector Andreas Nelumbu, Commander of the Wanaheda Police station.

On Saturday morning, a number of Swapo supporters converged on the open space where the RDP meeting was planned.

As the situation developed into a tense standoff between the two groups, the Police moved in and escorted RDP members to Police vehicles to drive them away from the mob.

"The situation on Saturday reminds us of a typical Zanu-PF agenda in Zimbabwe. Democracy is at stake and we expect the Swapo leadership, especially its president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, to call its members to order. RDP calls upon people who have influence on Swapo to act now before the ruling party turns our country into a besieged fortress of violence and turmoil," said Jeremiah Nambinga, RDP co-ordinator for the Khomas Region yesterday afternoon.

"We are a legally constituted political party and we should be able to exercise our democratic rights as guaranteed by the Namibian Constitution.

"What is at stake in our country today is the future of democracy and on this we cannot compromise," Nambinga told a press conference at the RDP headquarters yesterday.

"On Friday some of our members noticed a Swapo flag being hoisted at the venue of the meeting and this was followed by a meeting of some Swapo party activists," Nambinga said.

"On Saturday between 10h00 and 11h00, a number of Swapo activists converged on the open space and our members spotted a group of children, the Swapo Pioneers, marching there.

"Eventually one of the regional Swapo leaders, Michael Mwinga, appeared.

He urged his members to make sure that RDP does not hold a meeting at the planned venue and that the venue belongs to them," Nambinga added.

Nambinga phoned the Wanaheda Police station, informing them about the unfolding event and requested the Police to inform the Swapo activists at the site that the RDP planned to hold its meeting there at 14h00.

"The Police tried to reason with the Swapo members to disperse but they refused to leave and by 14h00, the situation became tense.

"As our members arrived for the meeting, they were provoked by the Swapo activists. The situation became tense and Police reinforcement was called," Nambinga described Saturday's events.

"We decided that for the sake of peace and stability, we would call off the meeting and go home. Some of our members had to get Police protection to reach their homes. We were called sell-outs and enemies of the state and economic saboteurs and that the Oukwanyama-speaking Namibians should go (back) to Eenhana.

"A dangerous situation was averted due to RDP maturity in handling a very explosive situation provoked by Swapo extremists. Their action was totally undemocratic and we condemn it," Nambinga told The Namibian yesterday afternoon.

The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) condemned what it called racist remarks made by Swapo activists at the scene.

Swapo supporters shouted "Aashamba ne indeni koLyeeta yeni nenge shuneni kEenhana dheni hwi", "Sema owu li peni" and "Oshipundi (nashi ye) kuNujoma".

These are Oshiwambo vernacular terms for "You commoners [as opposed to the nobility] go to your Lyeeta or go back to Eenhana", "Sam, where are you?" and "Power to Nujoma", respectively.

Lyeeta is a reference to a shopping centre belonging to RDP member Jeremiah Nambinga in the North.

Eenhana is a settlement in the Ohangwena Region where mainly Oukwanyama speakers live.

Efforts to reach Swapo Secretary for Information and Mobilisation Jerry Ekandjo and Swapo's Khomas co-ordinator Michael Mwinga were fruitless, despite messages left on their cellphones.

Police Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu yesterday confirmed that a Swapo flag had been hoisted at the spot where the RDP wanted to hold the meeting.

"There was a dispute over the place," Amulungu said.

"Police tried to speak to both sides. The situation had become unruly. Police decided to remove everybody from the site. Two people have laid assault charges."

Amulungu did not say whether those who had laid charges were RDP or Swapo supporters.