APP: Shuumbwa on the fringes over Kanyetu loyalty
Party yet to repay N$330k loan
Shuumbwa's reported 'close friendship' with expelled secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu has been blamed for lingering feelings of mistrust.
All People’s Party (APP) acting president Nangolo Shuumbwa is reportedly not wanted in the party, which he borrowed N$330 000 in 2019, helping it to secure two seats in parliament.
One of those seats could soon become vacant, if efforts to ouster Shuumbwa succeed. Maria Kamutali occupies the other.
APP is so broke that it hasn’t repaid Shuumbwa to date, with another election looming for 2024.
The party gets N$500 000 per quarter from parliament, equating to N$2 million annually, for its two seats.
Shuumbwa was elected as the party’s vice-president following the sudden death of then party leader Ignatius Shixwameni.
Some argued he was planted in that position due to him being the party’s financier. Others say his attempted ouster is due to him being an Oshiwambo-speaking leader of a perceived ‘Kavango party’.
Not included
Shuumbwa has been so isolated that his views are constantly dismissed in meetings – when he is invited. He was allegedly excluded from a meeting that took place in Rundu last Saturday.
“The last time I was consulted was when the party had no money and they borrowed money from me for elections. Now, since the party has money, there is nothing they inform me about,” he told Namibian Sun.
Although he is a signatory to the party’s bank accounts, money is allegedly often withdrawn without his involvement.
“I am not included in anything. I can say that I was excluded. The truth is that if people want to exclude you in anything that they are doing... In my case, if I am excluded, what option do I have? For one to perform better in what you are doing, you have to work together as a team to achieve a certain goal.
“Now, if there is a team of people who are doing their own thing, it means you are not part of their goal,” he said.
“I am not a vulnerable person, even if I am treated as a vulnerable person. Therefore, if people did not consider me for their meeting, it’s not a problem.”
Not trusted
Meanwhile, according to APP acting secretary-general Venitus Goraseb, Shuumbwa is no longer trusted by fellow party members.
He said the cause of the ill-treatment towards Shuumbwa is the fact that he is close friends with expelled secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu.
During the process of disciplining Kanyetu, Shuumbwa reportedly showed his loyalty to Kanyetu and admitted that they were friends.
“He has admitted to his close friendship with [Kanyetu] and even during this process, he has not convinced the other leaders that he will stand by the party, no matter what,” Goraseb said.
“Now, if you get that kind of impression from a leader, a person who is supposed to be the principal of the organisation; when that person gives you the impression that his or her friendship with an individual is more important than the position he holds and the responsibility in the party, you can surely not blame the people for not trusting him.”
No recall plans
“The acting president must look at himself first before he looks at other people. Because the reaction of the people towards him did not come from the people. It did not happen overnight. During that process, they observed that the president cannot be trusted. That is the situation,” he said.
Goraseb further refuted that there are plans to recall Shuumbwa.
He added that the party’s elective congress will take place in April 2024.
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One of those seats could soon become vacant, if efforts to ouster Shuumbwa succeed. Maria Kamutali occupies the other.
APP is so broke that it hasn’t repaid Shuumbwa to date, with another election looming for 2024.
The party gets N$500 000 per quarter from parliament, equating to N$2 million annually, for its two seats.
Shuumbwa was elected as the party’s vice-president following the sudden death of then party leader Ignatius Shixwameni.
Some argued he was planted in that position due to him being the party’s financier. Others say his attempted ouster is due to him being an Oshiwambo-speaking leader of a perceived ‘Kavango party’.
Not included
Shuumbwa has been so isolated that his views are constantly dismissed in meetings – when he is invited. He was allegedly excluded from a meeting that took place in Rundu last Saturday.
“The last time I was consulted was when the party had no money and they borrowed money from me for elections. Now, since the party has money, there is nothing they inform me about,” he told Namibian Sun.
Although he is a signatory to the party’s bank accounts, money is allegedly often withdrawn without his involvement.
“I am not included in anything. I can say that I was excluded. The truth is that if people want to exclude you in anything that they are doing... In my case, if I am excluded, what option do I have? For one to perform better in what you are doing, you have to work together as a team to achieve a certain goal.
“Now, if there is a team of people who are doing their own thing, it means you are not part of their goal,” he said.
“I am not a vulnerable person, even if I am treated as a vulnerable person. Therefore, if people did not consider me for their meeting, it’s not a problem.”
Not trusted
Meanwhile, according to APP acting secretary-general Venitus Goraseb, Shuumbwa is no longer trusted by fellow party members.
He said the cause of the ill-treatment towards Shuumbwa is the fact that he is close friends with expelled secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu.
During the process of disciplining Kanyetu, Shuumbwa reportedly showed his loyalty to Kanyetu and admitted that they were friends.
“He has admitted to his close friendship with [Kanyetu] and even during this process, he has not convinced the other leaders that he will stand by the party, no matter what,” Goraseb said.
“Now, if you get that kind of impression from a leader, a person who is supposed to be the principal of the organisation; when that person gives you the impression that his or her friendship with an individual is more important than the position he holds and the responsibility in the party, you can surely not blame the people for not trusting him.”
No recall plans
“The acting president must look at himself first before he looks at other people. Because the reaction of the people towards him did not come from the people. It did not happen overnight. During that process, they observed that the president cannot be trusted. That is the situation,” he said.
Goraseb further refuted that there are plans to recall Shuumbwa.
He added that the party’s elective congress will take place in April 2024.
[email protected]; [email protected]
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