Broke APP fails to repay its president’s loan

For the past three years, the All People’s Party (APP) has owed a company partly owned by its acting president Erastus Shuumbwa and his siblings over N$300 000.

The money was used to partly fund the party’s 2019 elective congress as well as that year’s presidential and national assembly election campaigns.

The party has failed to pay back the money despite receiving over N$1 million per year from government since 2020 after having secured two seats in the National Assembly.

This bombshell of information emanates from the recent suspension of the party’s secretary-general, Vinsent Kanyetu, who stands accused of failing to keep records of how the loan money was used.

Namibian Sun understands the APP coffers ran dry ahead of its August 2019 congress, which forced the party to seek money from party members, including its late president Ignatius Shixwameni.

It is alleged that the Shuumbwa money paid for the accommodation of party members, the venue where the congress was held as well as transport costs for the event held in Rundu.

At that congress, Shuumbwa - a well-known businessman - was elected APP vice-president.

Soft loans

As the November 2019 presidential elections were approaching, the party’s bank account was in the negatives, hence it resolved to approach Shuumbwa for more money in order to fund its election campaigns.

When contacted for comment, Shuumbwa confirmed that he was approached by the party and that he consulted his siblings he has businesses with, who agreed to give out soft loans to assist the party.

The soft loans were never deposited into the party’s main bank account, because it was in a deficit, Shuumbwa said.

“The party did not have a single cent when we borrowed them that money,” he said.

The soft loan monies were still in Shuumbwa’s possession, who paid it into the accounts of various regions - as per the party’s request through Kanyetu’s office.

These soft loans accumulated to over N$330 000.

‘We bailed you out’

Shuumbwa said he was surprised that the tone of party members - who knew of the loan - changed, saying at some point they demanded proof that certain monies were paid to the regions.

“We bailed out the party because it was in need of money, but after that need was no longer there... My comrades know they were dry and now they are coming up with different stories,” he narrated.

The situation has also resulted in Shuumbwa’s siblings, who have been waiting on the return of their money, approaching a lawyer.

Namibian Sun, however, understands that at the last party meeting two weeks ago, the matter was discussed and a resolution was taken.

Kanyetu suspension

Meanwhile, Kanyetu has been charged with six counts of misconduct, which range from the inability to carry out his responsibilities, failure to keep records and using party funds to aid a newly established political party in Rundu and assault on parliament premises to sexual harassment and withholding information from the party.

He is expected to appear before an independent disciplinary committee to prove his innocence.

Kanyetu was warned that in the event he continues with any inappropriate behaviour, he risks being expelled by the party.

When contacted for comment yesterday, he described the charges against him as ‘rubbish’.

“I saw the letter and all these charges are rubbish,” Kanyetu said.

He added that he will take the party to court in order to clear his name, while he noted that the manner he learnt about his suspension on social media prior to being served with an official notice "did not sit well" with him.

He explained that he would take the legal route because there has been a 'witch-hunt' against him, adding that he feels a disciplinary hearing will not do him justice.

“I will go to court as I seek justice. They tarnished my name,” he said.

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