Swapo eats its own

ONE of Swapo’s highest decision-making bodies approved a plan to charge over ten party leaders with misconduct, despite concerns that the move appears to be a witch-hunt to eliminate likely candidates for senior positions at the party’s elective congress later this year.

Swapo secretary general Nangolo Mbumba announced yesterday at the Swapo headquarters that several members would be slapped with disciplinary charges.

“The political bureau resolved to charge, in due course, those who have violated the party constitution with impunity,” Mbumba said.

He declined to name the leaders facing charges, but The Namibian understands that they include former youth minister Kazenambo Kazenambo, former land reform deputy minister Bernadus Swartbooi, former youth league secretary Elijah Ngurare and Swapo member of parliament Ida Hoffmann.

Others include former youth league spokesperson Job Amupanda and Henny Seibeb, the former personal assistant to ex-Swapo secretary general Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana.

The decision to charge the outspoken leaders was endorsed by Swapo’s politburo. The politburo has 24 members, who are responsible for, among others, directing the party’s political and “programmatic” agenda.

Members include former President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Swapo’s acting president Hage Geingob, secretary general Nangolo Mbumba and his deputy Laura McLeod-Katjirua.

Mbumba said the politburo felt that the Swapo members identified have been violating the party’s constitution for a while with impunity, but continue to regard themselves as members of the ruling party.

“The political bureau resolved to enforce the provisions of the party constitution, its rules and regulations and procedures, as well as the code of conduct so that no stone is left unturned in ensuring that whoever makes himself or herself guilty of such misconduct faces the full wrath of the party constitution,” he stressed.

Mbumba said the targeted members would face the party’s disciplinary committee, headed by Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, deputised by Libertina Amathila, and with Doreen Sioka, Willem Konjore, Connie Pandeni and Tommy Nambahu as ordinary members.

“Procedures will be followed,” Mbumba said, adding that each case would be judged on its merits.

The Namibian is told that the sins of some of the targeted politicians include statements in the media considered too critical of the ruling party’s most senior leaders, while others were considered insults of the leadership.

Swartbooi, Ngurare and Amupanda are said to aspire to higher ambitions in the party and government, and the move to charge them has been described as a deliberate attempt to thwart their leadership ambitions by party insiders.

The Namibian understands that Swartbooi and Ngurare intend competing for the secretary general position at the Swapo congress, something which apparently doesn’t sit well with the likes of Mbumba.

Asked whether he would stand to retain his position this year, Mbumba said “no comment”.

As reported yesterday, the attempt to flush out outspoken leaders appears to play to President Geingob’s advantage. He wants to be the ruling party’s president from 2017 to 2022, which would put him in a virtually unasailable position to secure a second term as national President from 2020 to 2025.

Mbumba yesterday denied that the party’s leadership was deliberately going after outspoken leaders to eliminate opponents.

“It is outrageous for anyone to think that we would be abusing power to turn things in our favour,” he said.

Mbumba added that the leadership makes decisions which benefit the party and country.

He said the politburo was also concerned by the mushrooming formation of movements by party members, and the “subsequent blatant and continued disrespect towards the leadership of the party and of the country”.

Mbumba was also upset with the media which kept referring to Geingob as the party’s acting president, and not its president. “Stop that crap,” he said.

The secretary general also said that the politburo was concerned about the country’s economic situation. “The politburo implored the government to implement measures to overcome the effects of the economic downturn,” he said. Mbumba and senior leaders such as Pohamba and Geingob were found on the wrong side of the party’s constitution by acting judge Collins Parker last year over the decision to expel Ngurare, Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, George Kambala and Job Amupanda from the party. Judge Parker declared the decision unlawful, and null and void. The secretary general said the leadership were not exhibiting double standards.

“It’s not about us. Everyone is equal. The rules apply to everyone,” he said.

Mbumba also insulted rank-and-file members at a rally in 2014, saying “omake aafyoona nye”, which loosely translates as “clap hands, you commoners”.