Amukwiyu enemy of progress at Oshikoto, says mayor

Oniipa mayor Augustus Jafet has castigated Swapo’s Oshikoto regional coordinator, Armas Amukwiyu, for suspending him, calling him an enemy of progress at Oniipa and in the Oshikoto region.

Amukwiyu suspended Jafet last week for allegedly supporting an opposition party at Oniipa towards the end of last year.

“Be assured that you are being regarded as the enemy of progress in the Oniipa Town Council and within the entire Oshikoto region,” Jafet wrote to Amukwiyu last week.

Jafet on Monday confirmed that he wrote the letter.

He said he wanted Amukwiyu to withdraw it.

In his letter, Jafet accused Amukwiyu of instigating Swapo members and Oniipa councillors not to attend pending council meetings.

Jafet said Swapo’s constitution provides that only a regional executive has the power to recommend the suspension of any member to the politburo.

“I would hereby like you to provide me with the regional executive committee, resolution and minutes of the regional executive committee at which the decision was taken for me to be suspended from party activities and the reason for the decision,” he said.

Jafet asked Amukwiyu to inform him what “serious misconduct” or violation of Swapo constitution he has committed at Oniipa district that warranted his suspension from party activities.

Jafet asked Amukwiyu why he was not suspended from the party or imprisoned for being fingered in the Fishrot corruption scandal.

He also asked the regional coordinator why he did not relieve town councillors who were arrested over corruption in August 2021.

Those who were arrested for corruption were David Kambonde and Hileni Idhogela.

Jafet gave Amukwiyu three days to respond to his letter, saying if he fails to do so he [Jafet] will consider Amukwiyu’s letter as being baseless.

Amukwiyu did not answer calls or a text message sent to him by The Namibian on Monday.