Nabta infighting continues

THE recent appointment by the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) of two officials for the Oshana Region was “illegal and against Nabta’s constitution”, a former Nabta national leader alleged yesterday.

Pendapala Nakathingo, who was last year dismissed from his position as Nabta chairman for Oshana Region, said Nabta President Magnus Nangombe acted illegally in appointing Helen Shiimbi as Acting Nabta chairperson for Oshana and Leopold Amwele as her deputy. Nakathingo said such appointment can only be done with the approval of Nabta’s National Executive Committee.This, said Nakathingo, was not done, since the committee consisted of himself and four other officials whom Nangombe had suspended last year.He said it was also wrong for Nangombe to make such appointment while the court case he and the other four had made to challenge their suspension was still pending.Nakathingo was dismissed on October 9 last year, while Willie Gariseb, who was Nabta’s regional chairperson in Erongo, was dismissed by Nangombe earlier this year.Nangombe suspended three Nabta Executive members – National Secretary Vespa Muunda, Deputy National Treasurer Immanuel Ankambo and National Deputy Secretary Elvis Kauesa – in October last year.Nangombe claimed the five did not meet the requirements to be Nabta members and they attended the 2005 Nabta Congress held at Otjiwarongo by fraudulent means.But the five argued that Nangombe had no constitutional right to dwwake sure that Nabta’s activities are continuing.Depending on the situation prevailing, the president has the power to appoint,” said Nangombe.Nangombe said Nakathingo and the other four former Nabta leaders should stay out of the association’s activities, as they were no longer part of it.For a person to be in the Nabta leadership, he or she should own a bus or a taxi and be a member of the association.Nangombe claimed the five did not meet these requirements.Nakathingo said such appointment can only be done with the approval of Nabta’s National Executive Committee.This, said Nakathingo, was not done, since the committee consisted of himself and four other officials whom Nangombe had suspended last year.He said it was also wrong for Nangombe to make such appointment while the court case he and the other four had made to challenge their suspension was still pending.Nakathingo was dismissed on October 9 last year, while Willie Gariseb, who was Nabta’s regional chairperson in Erongo, was dismissed by Nangombe earlier this year.Nangombe suspended three Nabta Executive members – National Secretary Vespa Muunda, Deputy National Treasurer Immanuel Ankambo and National Deputy Secretary Elvis Kauesa – in October last year.Nangombe claimed the five did not meet the requirements to be Nabta members and they attended the 2005 Nabta Congress held at Otjiwarongo by fraudulent means.But the five argued that Nangombe had no constitutional right to dwwake sure that Nabta’s activities are continuing.Depending on the situation prevailing, the president has the power to appoint,” said Nangombe.Nangombe said Nakathingo and the other four former Nabta leaders should stay out of the association’s activities, as they were no longer part of it.For a person to be in the Nabta leadership, he or she should own a bus or a taxi and be a member of the association.Nangombe claimed the five did not meet these requirements.