Swapo gifts unaffiliated NEKA N$100 000
Concerns have been raised within ruling party circles after it emerged that Swapo donated N$100 000 to the Namibian Exile Kids Association (NEKA) for its congress, which took place in Otjiwarongo last weekend.
The party was the biggest contributor on a list of donors, with others including prominent lawyers, army generals, ministers, diplomats and civil servants who dug deep to fund the recently-concluded elective congress.
Namibian Sun can confirm that the donation was made over the weekend, with N$90 000 coming from the party’s coffers and the remaining N$10 000 from Swapo’s commercial firm, Kalahari Holdings.
The donation has raised eyebrows, with some party members questioning the motive behind the payment, especially when considering that NEKA is not yet an affiliate of the party.
Critics have also questioned the decision to donate money to NEKA while the party has more pressing financial obligations.
‘Illegal’
“I do not know where she [Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa] got the authorisation from to sanction this donation. Surely not from the right structures, because the association is not affiliated to Swapo in any way. How will it be recorded in the party’s financials? I can guarantee you, that donation was done illegally,” a party veteran - who spoke to Namibian Sun yesterday - said.
According to another member, by virtue of being secretary-general, Shaningwa has the power to decide on donations to be made on behalf of the party, provided that the beneficiaries are affiliated or form part of Swapo’s structures.
The party member said any donation request is channelled to the secretary of finance, who then assesses it before submitting it to the secretary-general’s office for her to approve or decline.
When contacted yesterday, Kalahari Holdings’ board chairman, Martin Inkumbi, bluntly responded “no comment”.
Shaningwa and the party’s finance secretary Lucia Ipumbu were not available for comment, while Swapo's secretary for legal affairs Pohamba Shifeta said he does not know about the donation.
NEKA’s ousted president Rauna Amutati and her deputy Kadiva Hamutumwa, who now serves as the association’s president, were both not available when contacted for comment.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether NEKA requested the donation, or whether the party initiated it.
Affiliated
The N$100 000 ‘gift’ comes at a time when the Swapo politburo has, in principle, accepted NEKA’s application to become an affiliate of the party, pending amendments to the association’s constitution.
“The political bureau of Swapo Party has ratified the admission of NEKA as an affiliate of the Swapo Party, in line with article eight, sub-article three. The Swapo Party department of legal affairs has also ascertained the alignment of the draft NEKA constitution to that of the Swapo Party, and the draft constitution of NEKA has been found to be in conformity with the provisions of the constitution of Swapo,” Shaningwa wrote in a October 2023 letter.
She added: “Your application and draft constitution will therefore be referred to the Swapo Party secretariat and the political bureau for further scrutiny, and subsequently to the central committee to determine the amount of admission and membership fees payable by NEKA.”
According to the association’s constitution that was adopted at last weekend’s elective congress, NEKA will send 16 delegates to Swapo’s congress once its affiliation to the ruling party is confirmed.
“The [NEKA] congress shall elect 16 delegates to the Swapo Party congress three months before the latter’s congress, following the zebra principle,” the new constitution read.
The party was the biggest contributor on a list of donors, with others including prominent lawyers, army generals, ministers, diplomats and civil servants who dug deep to fund the recently-concluded elective congress.
Namibian Sun can confirm that the donation was made over the weekend, with N$90 000 coming from the party’s coffers and the remaining N$10 000 from Swapo’s commercial firm, Kalahari Holdings.
The donation has raised eyebrows, with some party members questioning the motive behind the payment, especially when considering that NEKA is not yet an affiliate of the party.
Critics have also questioned the decision to donate money to NEKA while the party has more pressing financial obligations.
‘Illegal’
“I do not know where she [Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa] got the authorisation from to sanction this donation. Surely not from the right structures, because the association is not affiliated to Swapo in any way. How will it be recorded in the party’s financials? I can guarantee you, that donation was done illegally,” a party veteran - who spoke to Namibian Sun yesterday - said.
According to another member, by virtue of being secretary-general, Shaningwa has the power to decide on donations to be made on behalf of the party, provided that the beneficiaries are affiliated or form part of Swapo’s structures.
The party member said any donation request is channelled to the secretary of finance, who then assesses it before submitting it to the secretary-general’s office for her to approve or decline.
When contacted yesterday, Kalahari Holdings’ board chairman, Martin Inkumbi, bluntly responded “no comment”.
Shaningwa and the party’s finance secretary Lucia Ipumbu were not available for comment, while Swapo's secretary for legal affairs Pohamba Shifeta said he does not know about the donation.
NEKA’s ousted president Rauna Amutati and her deputy Kadiva Hamutumwa, who now serves as the association’s president, were both not available when contacted for comment.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether NEKA requested the donation, or whether the party initiated it.
Affiliated
The N$100 000 ‘gift’ comes at a time when the Swapo politburo has, in principle, accepted NEKA’s application to become an affiliate of the party, pending amendments to the association’s constitution.
“The political bureau of Swapo Party has ratified the admission of NEKA as an affiliate of the Swapo Party, in line with article eight, sub-article three. The Swapo Party department of legal affairs has also ascertained the alignment of the draft NEKA constitution to that of the Swapo Party, and the draft constitution of NEKA has been found to be in conformity with the provisions of the constitution of Swapo,” Shaningwa wrote in a October 2023 letter.
She added: “Your application and draft constitution will therefore be referred to the Swapo Party secretariat and the political bureau for further scrutiny, and subsequently to the central committee to determine the amount of admission and membership fees payable by NEKA.”
According to the association’s constitution that was adopted at last weekend’s elective congress, NEKA will send 16 delegates to Swapo’s congress once its affiliation to the ruling party is confirmed.
“The [NEKA] congress shall elect 16 delegates to the Swapo Party congress three months before the latter’s congress, following the zebra principle,” the new constitution read.
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