SWAKOPMUND ' President Hifikepunye Pohamba says government is concerned about the provision of decent housing, as well as lack of adequate sanitation in some towns and settlements, especially in the informal settlements.

This he said on Sunday in Swakopmund at a Swapo Party star rally ahead of the regional and local authority elections this week. The Head of State cited the DRC informal settlement in Swakopmund as example.

'Housing and sanitation remain a problem. Conditions in which our people are living in DRC are not good,' he said.

Pohamba warned councillors not to just stand for positions but instead to address problems at hand in their towns when elected ' problems such as sanitation and housing.

He was particularly disturbed by those who abuse and murder women and children, saying criminals should not be tolerated in society.

The Swapo Party, he noted, has united people and will continue to build the nation for the prosperity of the present and future generations. Therefore, he urged people to vote for the Swapo Party for sustainable development in the coming elections this week.

Although Pohamba applauded Swapo members for the large turnout at the rally, he stressed that Swakopmund has a lot of white people that are never seen at public rallies.

'Swakopmund has a lot of whites but I don't see them here. Fine, I'm asking them to go and vote for the Swapo Party. Go and exercise your intelligence on the 26th and 27th. They (whites) have been operating their businesses here in a peaceful manner because of Swapo,' he added.

He reiterated his call to the nation to ensure that all the campaign activities continue to be conducted in a peaceful and non-violent manner.

'I urge all our members, supporters and sympathisers and, indeed, the different political groupings participating in the campaigns to exercise restraint at all times. There should be no intimidation'.

He added that it is through fights that blood is shed, hence he urged people to avoid fighting.

'Swapo and other people don't need to fight. We are all Namibians. We must convince people belonging to other groups that when you go to the polls, vote for a party that delivers to the people. If you do that, then you become a realistic person in society,' the President stated.

He also promised that the Swapo Party would continue to address the plight of senior citizens by gradually improving social grants and exempting them from paying hospital fees.

He said the Swapo government will continue to address the plight of veterans of the liberation struggle by ensuring that they continue to receive monthly social grants, decent housing and implementing targeted economic projects.

He appealed to candidates to ensure senior citizens and veterans are registered in their respective areas.

Among the various positive developments in the Erongo Region, Pohamba pointed out the ongoing upgrading of the road from Okahandja via Karibib to Usakos, the construction of a water desalination plant and the associated water pipeline infrastructure and building of offices for local authorities, as well as constituency offices.

'The Swapo Party has a clear vision to accelerate socio-economic development in this region and the rest of Namibia. We support the development of the Walvis Bay corridor as a strategy to foster trade within Namibia and the SADC region. Today, this corridor is facilitating trade and is helping to create jobs for our people. It has become a major artery for economic activities as well as the movement of people and goods,' he maintained.

Among dignitaries who attended the rally were Member of Parliament Ben Amathila, Erongo Regional Governor Samuel Nuuyoma, Swakopmund Mayor Germina Shitaleni (who is also Swakopmund Constituency candidate for the Swapo Party), Minister of Foreign Affairs Utoni Nujoma and other government officials.