Keetmanshoop — Hundreds of Swapo Party members, supporters and sympathisers in blue, red and green attire flocked to the Westdene Stadium to listen to the message of President Hifikepunye Pohamba on Saturday.

Before the President addressed the gathering, he asked the audience to observe a minute of silence in remembrance of the late Hendrik Witbooi.

In his address, Pohamba highlighted the Swapo Party government's achievements during the last 19 years of independence.

He said he had come back to Keetmanshoop again, following his visit to the town in March this year for the celebrations of the 19th independence anniversary, to share with the people of Karas the message of the Swapo Party with Presidential and National Assembly elections just around the corner.

"I have come to inform you, the people of Karas that the mandate you gave us in 2004 to lead this country of ours has come to an end. As per the constitution of the Republic, we have to come to the citizens of this country to inform them that our term of office is coming to an end, and the Swapo Party has once again nominated me to be the presidential candidate so that I should have the mandate again to lead this nation for the next five years as from 21 March 21 next year," he said.

"When I was asked, I said 'yes'. I have come to request the people of Karas to vote for the Swapo Party candidate, the gentleman standing before you," he said, generating some ululations.

"The message of the Swapo Party to the Namibian voters is that we will continue to build on the achievements that we have recorded so far. We recommit ourselves to take up the challenges of accelerating socio-economic development in all parts of the country.

It is a fact that when we came to power 19 years ago, many communities, particularly in rural areas, had no access to potable water, electricity, affordable housing, jobs and social security," he explained.

On health issues, he boasted that the Swapo Party government had implemented policies and projects to improve the health and social wellbeing of all Namibians.

Many clinics and health centres had been built across the country, and in Karas alone, the government has built clinics in the villages and towns of Berseba, Tses, Karasburg, Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer, the crowd was told.

The Keetmanshoop hospital was also recently renovated, he said.

The President will end his southern campaign trail with another rally in Mariental today.