Police were called to the scene when the situation deteriorated.
The fight erupted after the owner of a yard where the pole on which RDP members were placing a poster along Ongava Street in Okuryangava, allegedly objected saying she did not want her friends and family to think that she belonged to the opposition party.
“This would also affect my business. From a business perspective, I cannot openly demonstrate which party I belong to. My aim is to make profit, not to show which party I belong to,” the woman who refused to be identified, said.
She said RDP members did not even ask for her permission when they went into her yard to access the pole.
The woman said the fight started when RDP members refused to put down the poster and “started insulting us that we will die poor as Swapo members when we had not even told them that we belong to the ruling party”.
People from the neighbourhood who were wearing Swapo colours and carried the party's flags intervened and challenged the RDP members. There were pushes and shoves as the two groups traded insults until the police arrived.
“They cannot expect the government to employ everyone. Some of us have to try something on our own. I did this to try and help my family. I make a living from my business. I do not need them to come and disrupt us,” she said. “They cannot impose on people which party to belong to. Whether we are Swapo supporters or not, that is our secret.”
Gideon Kaulinge of the RDP, who was among those placing the posters, said it is unacceptable in a democratic country for Swapo supporters to behave the way they did.
“That is intimidation. Swapo and its members are trying to impose their will on us. It is not acceptable in a democratic country,” he said, adding that the Windhoek municipality gave them permission to put up the posters.
“We will not stop campaigning because of intimidation. We will continue with our campaigns until the elections,” Kaulinge said, adding that they wrote to the municipality and their request was approved after paying N$600 to use the poles from 17 October to 28 November 2014.
However, The Namibian found that RDP posters from the intersection of Ekundi Street and Ongava Street towards Okahandja informal settlement had been taken down by yesterday morning.
Kaulinge said they were aware that their posters had been pulled down.
tuyeimo@namibian.com.na