SIBBINDA: The Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) and Republican Party (RP) were dealt a major blow on Saturday when two of their leaders deserted the opposition parties to join the Swapo-Party.

During a Swapo-Party star rally held at Sibbinda village situated some 60 kilometres west of Katima Mulilo, DTA Deputy Secretary-General (SG) Brilliant Musiwa and RP Vice-President Zoom Walubita were announced as new members of the ruling party.

The two politicians were received by Swapo-Party President and the country’s President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who handed over their membership cards.

The Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP)’s John Lilembu also joined the ruling party.

Speaking on the sidelines of the rally, Musiwa told Nampa he left DTA because the party “has lost vision and direction”, adding that he deemed it appropriate to join “a party that promotes democracy”.

Musiwa served as DTA’s Deputy SG for two decades and his term was set to expire in 2015.

Meanwhile, Walubita explained that he decided to join the Swapo-Party after realising that there was “no room for opposition parties” and that their chances of “ever governing Namibia are very minimal”.

He went on to state that the Swapo-Party is the only party that is able to deliver services to the country’s citizens. Walubita was supposed to serve as RP Vice-President until 2013.

Meanwhile, during the rally, Pohamba urged residents of the Sibbinda Constituency to maintain the peace, unity and harmony which he said the Swapo-Party brought to the country.