Smit-Mudge spat continues

THE rift between Republican Party president Henk Mudge and former party executive member Nico Smit continues to grow, with Smit yesterday challenging Mudge to prove that he had been suspended by the party’s Khomas Regional Committee.

In a statement issued yesterday, Smit said Mudge was ‘lying through his teeth’ about the party’s Khomas Regional Committee suspending him over allegations of racism and a lack of discipline’.According to Smit, now the former party representative on the Windhoek City Council, he resigned from the party on Friday, citing ‘political short-sightedness and incompetence’ on the part of Mudge for his decision.’No Khomas Regional Committee exists that was elected in terms of the RP’s constitution, so I challenge Mr Mudge to prove by way of minutes of an executive meeting that any such Regional Committee was ever elected and approved by the EC as prescribed by the Constitution of the RP. The last executive meeting was, in fact, held more than two years ago,’ Smit said.He rejected Mudge’s claims this weekend of racism on his part.Mudge yesterday announced a press conference to be held today, where he said proof of the existence of the Khomas Regional Committee, and of the party’s claims against Smit, would be given.He would also use the opportunity to state the party’s position on a number of other leaders who announced their intention to leave the party this past weekend.At least five of the 11-member EC have said they intend to quit either the party or its leadership.These include former Hardap Regional Governor Pieter Boltman, Aranos branch chairperson De Lange Kotze, Keetmanshoop town councillor Pieter Visser and Aranos Councillor Alta Binneman.Mudge yesterday disputed the membership of Boltman, alleging he was never an RP member.’I’ll address the issue once and for all, and be done with it. We have elections coming up in three weeks. There really is no time for this wild-goose chase,’ Mudge said.The RP has a congress coming up in three weeks’ time, where the party leadership will be elected.