Businessmen Set-son Shifidi, Shapwa Kanyama, John Savva, Ali Dharani and suspended National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia managing director Immanuel Mulunga are among the prominent donors of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s introductory political rallies.
Last weekend’s rally in Windhoek resulted in pledges of around N$712 000, while the race is now on in the Oshana region, where deputy prime minister and minister of international relations and cooperation Nandi-Ndaitwah is set to address a rally at Oshakati tomorrow.
While the list circulating on WhatsApp only reflects a total contribution of N$409 000 for the Khomas region, individuals familiar with the matter claim the actual amount collected has reached N$712 000.
According to a source, some donors have opted to keep their contributions anonymous.
By yesterday Swapo has collected around N$480 000 for the Oshakati rally from 284 donors.
Donating to political players is not new, but will provide insight into the amounts and individuals pumping money into Nandi-Ndaitwah’s political rallies.
In 2012, former president Hifikepunye Pohamba hosted a dinner at State House to give a selected group of business people the opportunity to influence government policies ahead of the Swapo congress.
Some Nandi-Ndaitwah supporters claim they have decided to raise funds for her rallies, instead of using state or party resources which could come with allegations of abuse.
Donating has become a status symbol for some, and a battle between the regions.
‘PLEASE DON’T FORGET ME’
Political analyst Rui Tytende describes donating as a way to say “please don’t forget me”.
He says the list of contributors shows how people are positioning themselves to get favours from Nandi-Ndaitwah should she emerge victorious in the 2024 poll.
“Look at the people around her – not only the political elite, but the business elite. So people are positioning themselves.
“Perhaps the question we should ask is whether Nandi-Ndaitwah knows who is contributing and who is not.
“But if we have to assume that this list is being circulated on a group she participates in, and those people who are making these contributions know very well who is part of that group, they are indirectly saying ‘please don’t forget me’,” he says.
Tyitende says attention should also be paid to former politicians who have dug in their pockets to bankroll the rally.
“Then you look at the business people like Shapwa Kanyama, who paid N$10 000. These guys have been beneficiaries of health tenders of billions of dollars.
“Will some sort of reciprocity be expected going forward? These business people do not read political party manifestos. They are not interested in the ideological positioning or positions of the party.
“They are there for their own interest. They are businessmen. They are there to make money. They don’t care about service delivery. So, if they put in something, they definitely expect something out of it,” he says.
CONTRADICTIONS
Kanyama dominated news headlines this year for being Namibia’’s biggest beneficiary of health tenders, especially a condom contract.
The deal was cancelled after Nandi-Ndaitwah and Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa demanded this.
“I am glad the public’s cry has been heard, and that the health tender is being reviewed. One calls for fairness and due diligence to prevail,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said earlier this year.
One of the most significant contributors to her Windhoek campaign is Kanyama, an individual who has consistently secured government contracts through the tendering process.
Kanyama has directly donated N$10 000 and three cows to Nandi-Ndaitwah’s campaign, while his company Africure Pharmaceutical Namibia has pledged N$50 000.
Commenting on his donation, he said it comes “from the bottom of his heart”.
“I am just a loyal Swapo member like any other Swapo member. We do things for our party with love, not with expectation,” he said.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says Nandi-Ndaitwah accepting these donations does not do her anti-corruption stance any favours.
“Accepting donations from business people, more in particular those who have been seen as having an entanglement with the central procurement system, could undermine her image of being incorruptible,” he says.
Kamwanyah says donations from business people to political parties or candidates are interest driven.
Nandi-Ndaitwah did not answer calls to her cellphone yesterday.
Businessman Savva has donated N$20 000 to the Khomas rally.
He did not answer calls and text messages sent to him yesterday.
OSHAKATI SUPPORT
Oshikango-based shop Ezzy Import and Export donated N$111 000 to the Oshana rally, slated to take place at Oshakati, while International Commercial, also from Oshikango, donated N$50 000.
Indian businessman Dharani of Rani Group has donated N$50 000 to the Oshana rally.
Dharani says he donated to Swapo after the party sent him a request to do so.
“There is no expectation from the party. They sent us a request letter that they are coming to the region, and about 20 000 to 30 000 people would be coming,” he says.
Savva has donated another N$5 000 to the Oshana rally.
Businessman Erastus Shapumba has also donated N$10 000, while another Indian-owned business, Kuku Agri, has given N$10 000.
Among those who have donated towards the Oshakati rally are members of parliament, ministers, current and former local authority councillors and business people such as David ‘Kambwa’ Sheehama, who has donated N$10 000.
DINNERS
Political donations often provide the public with key players as Namibians head into a transition of power within the ruling party.
In 2012, Geingob’s team showed their hand by inviting individuals like Knowledge Katti to State House for a private dinner.
It was touted by some of those invited as a “pow-wow’” with Swapo’s “top four”, costing a minimum of N$100 000 for each person attending the event.
At the time, a source said the dinner might be a strategy of a select group of people with deep pockets to buy favours from government leaders who emerge as top leaders after the 2012 congress.
One of the attendants of that dinner was young millionaire Sacky Shanghala, a rising star in Swapo and government at the time.
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