HE Manuel Alexandre Duarte Rodrigues
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps – Republic of Namibia
The Republic of Namibia
Private Bag 1220
Ausspannplatz
Windhoek


His Excellency Rodrigues,

Ambassadors and High Commissioners Attending and Wearing the SWAPO Colours at ‘SWAPO Gala Dinner’

It has come to our attention via print media that you, Your Excellency, and your colleagues, Ambassadors and High Commissioners to the Republic of Namibia, attended and donned SWAPO Party colours at a Gala Dinner on Thursday, the 19th April 2012, in Windhoek’s Hilton Hotel. The Ambassadors and High Commissioners in question are:

a) The Ambassador of the Republic of Angola
b) The Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe
c) The Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
d) The Ambassador of the Republic of the Congo
e) The Ambassador of the Peoples’ Republic of China and
f) The Ambassador of the Republic of Algeria
g) The High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa
h) The High Commissioner of the Republic of Botswana
i) The High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia

As you are aware, Your Excellency, the presence of yourself and your esteemed colleagues, as representatives of your countries and governments in Namibia, is at the behest of the Government of Namibia. Your Excellency, you perform your functions on a State-to-State basis, and not on a political party-to-political party basis. This understanding clearly excludes your evident presence and participation at the said Gala Dinner.

It is our considered view that your presence at the above occasion is therefore not in keeping with your positions as the representatives of your countries and governments. It is further our view that your actions are tantamount to interference in domestic political matters of our country.

Moreover, RDP appreciates that Namibia’s struggle for independence benefited greatly from international solidarity. It is therefore understandable that relationships were formed during the fight for our independence. However, Namibia is now a sovereign State. Therefore, fraternal relationships and familiarity with each other, at party-to-party level, should not be the basis of State-to-State relations and interactions, especially in domestic partisan political matters of the host country.

It is for this reason that RDP wishes to register its unequivocal objection to your meddling in domestic politics. What is more, it militates and stands in glaring contradiction to the international ethics and diplomatic practices.

It is in this context that the RDP demands, at minimum, your unreserved apology to the Namibian people.
Your Excellency, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration,

Kandy Nehova
Secretary for International Relations
CC: Dr Tomaz Augusto Salomão
Executive Secretary of the SADC Secretariat