Mnyupe, Namcor face backlash for appearing at Swapo rally

Green hydrogen commissioner James Mnyupe and National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) executive Victoria Sibeya are facing backlash for promoting national projects at a Swapo rally in an election year.

Critics have argued that government resources and public officials should serve all citizens fairly without being used in ways that could benefit one political party.

Mnyupe and Sibeya took part in a panel discussion under the theme ‘Green Hydrogen, Where Does the Ordinary Namibian Youth Fit In?’ at a Swapo rally in Windhoek on Saturday.

Mnyupe told the crowd he “left his party colours at home” because he was representing the Green Hydrogen Council instead.

Sibeya referred to Swapo members as “comrades”.

She said Namcor is planning to spend US$500 million on drilling wells this year alone.

We are drilling four wells by December 2024.

“We are here to help Namibians. We actually have four discoveries at the moment,” she said.

Mnyupe explained to Swapo members the tangible results of the green hydrogen project thus far.

“The colleague hired 25 Namibian small and medium enterprises.

So far, this hydrogen issue has created 750 direct jobs. Not to come, not in the pipeline, done,” he said.

Mnyupe started off his statement by saying Swapo was the only party to invite his office for a talk.

However, some political parties like the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) say they have invited government officials to their events to talk about national projects, but have been informed it would be inappropriate.

Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah expresses concern that Mnyupe and Sibeya presented national projects to a specific political party, especially in an election year.

“Government resources and public officials should serve all citizens fairly and shouldn’t be used in ways that could benefit one political party,” he said.

Kamwanya reasoned that taxpayers fund these programmes.

“So, it’s essential that they’re discussed openly and fairly for the benefit of all, not as tools for political gain.”

He says as public officials, the two individuals are ethically bound to remain impartial, especially around election time.

“When they participate in political events, it creates the impression that they might be favouring a specific political party, in this case the ruling Swapo.

This can harm public trust and reduce confidence that Namcor and green hydrogen initiatives are managed in a fair, transparent way,” he says.

Political scientist Rui Tyitende says, in principle, there is nothing wrong with senior officials of state-owned enterprises addressing political parties on issues of national importance.

“It only becomes a problem when they decline invitations from opposition parties,” he says.

However, Tyitende says these same officials are acutely aware that their upward mobility in government structures requires an unhinged loyalty to Swapo.

“So they will not compromise on what feeds their stomachs and career aspirations,” he says.

Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) spokesperson Imms Nashinge says there is a clear line between political parties, what their purpose of existence is, and what their role in their business is all about.

“Political parties versus state programmes and activities are truly worlds apart.

For example, you go and explain this green hydrogen to a Swapo rally, what is the relevance? What is the expected result? It doesn’t make sense at all,” he says.

Nashinge says the reason political parties are not inviting them is simply because they understand the role of state agencies versus political parties.

“If you have seen for the past three years, the IPC has been going around to state agencies and ministries to engage and to have a better understanding from the horse’s mouth as far as the business of government and challenges facing them are concerned. We don’t need to invite them to rallies,” the politician says.

Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani yesterday said Mnyupe exercised poor judgement when he accepted the invite.

“You can’t invite government officials to come and speak at your rallies and campaign events,” he said.

Venaani argued that it is “utterly” illogical and unethical.

“For Mnyupe to go and present himself at a Swapo event is the poorest judgement that he holds. There’s no professionalism there. It’s a bloodline, too much blood,” he reasoned.

Mnyupe did not respond to questions sent to him at the time of going to print. Namcor acting head Ebson Uanguta said he would comment today.

LPM spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa yesterday said the presentation was inappropriate.

“They were at a Swapo rally, an event to promote the political party,” he said.

Simataa expressed concern that the presence of these institutions at the event could be perceived as bias in favour of the party
He said they have invited leaders in their capacity to events that are suitable to the nature of their offices.

“Last year, the LPM had a policy conference, which was an event inviting experts from various fields to best explain to our members the activities of the specific branch,” he said.

Simataa said institutions either ignored the invite or said they could not attend as they need to be impartial and not participate in political party activities.

“Yet, these very same institutions would go to a rally where the event clashes with their impartiality,” he said.