IPC slaps Smith-Howard with nine charges
ERWIN LEUSCHNER
SWAKOPMUND
Less than two months after the oral suspension of Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) regional councillor Ciske Smith-Howard, she has now been charged with no less than nine violations.
Describing some of the allegations as ridiculous and a witch hunt, she accused the party leadership of dictatorial behavior.
“I am deeply concerned that the party is violating fundamental freedoms and rights,” she said this week.
Smith-Howard, who serves as chairperson of the Erongo regional council, was suspended by party president Dr Panduleni Itula in October. Her charges were presented to her a few days ago, and she is due to defend herself at a disciplinary hearing in Windhoek this Saturday.
She said she is “very concerned” that the party has banned her from having a lawyer present during the hearing.
“I am being deprived of my basic rights. I will not travel to a disciplinary proceeding without a lawyer,” she said.
This was also emphasised by her legal representative, Tshuka Luvindao.
In a letter to IPC headquarters, he noted that the presence of a lawyer is important due to the “intricacy and complexity” of the issues. Should party leadership not allow the presence of a lawyer, the issue must be referred to the High Court, he wrote.
Staying strong
Although Smith-Howard expressed her disappointment with party leadership, she said she remains steadfast to defend herself.
On the nine allegations against her, she said: “It seems that I am being accused of anything and everything”.
Amongst the allegations are that she allegedly “behaved inappropriately” and described the IPC leaders as “spineless” on an internal WhatsApp group.
She is also accused of “disorderly behaviour” because she “slammed the door to the boardroom” after leaving a meeting with Itula and other party officials.
Smith-Howard is also charged on three counts of having shared classified internal party information with a lawyer, other party members as well as the media, which is a violation of the IPC constitution.
Postpone it
She is also said to have appeared on Namibian Sun’s ‘The Evening Review’ platform without permission.
“I am concerned that the party is shaking the freedom of the press. It is a fundamental right and transparency is important to me,” she argued.
She has also been accused of dishonesty for “claiming” to be a resident of the Swakopmund constituency while actually living on Langstrand. This is a violation of the Regional Council Act, the party charged.
Furthermore, she is accused of "secretly and without permission" having obtained the employment records of Henties Bay IPC councillor Siegfried Garoeb, whom she was accused of trying to push out of that local authority’s council.
Although the hearing is slated for this weekend, Smith-Howard will not travel to Windhoek.
“We didn't get enough time to prepare. My lawyer and I will only be available again from the end of January 2022 and have therefore requested that the hearing be postponed,” she said.
SWAKOPMUND
Less than two months after the oral suspension of Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) regional councillor Ciske Smith-Howard, she has now been charged with no less than nine violations.
Describing some of the allegations as ridiculous and a witch hunt, she accused the party leadership of dictatorial behavior.
“I am deeply concerned that the party is violating fundamental freedoms and rights,” she said this week.
Smith-Howard, who serves as chairperson of the Erongo regional council, was suspended by party president Dr Panduleni Itula in October. Her charges were presented to her a few days ago, and she is due to defend herself at a disciplinary hearing in Windhoek this Saturday.
She said she is “very concerned” that the party has banned her from having a lawyer present during the hearing.
“I am being deprived of my basic rights. I will not travel to a disciplinary proceeding without a lawyer,” she said.
This was also emphasised by her legal representative, Tshuka Luvindao.
In a letter to IPC headquarters, he noted that the presence of a lawyer is important due to the “intricacy and complexity” of the issues. Should party leadership not allow the presence of a lawyer, the issue must be referred to the High Court, he wrote.
Staying strong
Although Smith-Howard expressed her disappointment with party leadership, she said she remains steadfast to defend herself.
On the nine allegations against her, she said: “It seems that I am being accused of anything and everything”.
Amongst the allegations are that she allegedly “behaved inappropriately” and described the IPC leaders as “spineless” on an internal WhatsApp group.
She is also accused of “disorderly behaviour” because she “slammed the door to the boardroom” after leaving a meeting with Itula and other party officials.
Smith-Howard is also charged on three counts of having shared classified internal party information with a lawyer, other party members as well as the media, which is a violation of the IPC constitution.
Postpone it
She is also said to have appeared on Namibian Sun’s ‘The Evening Review’ platform without permission.
“I am concerned that the party is shaking the freedom of the press. It is a fundamental right and transparency is important to me,” she argued.
She has also been accused of dishonesty for “claiming” to be a resident of the Swakopmund constituency while actually living on Langstrand. This is a violation of the Regional Council Act, the party charged.
Furthermore, she is accused of "secretly and without permission" having obtained the employment records of Henties Bay IPC councillor Siegfried Garoeb, whom she was accused of trying to push out of that local authority’s council.
Although the hearing is slated for this weekend, Smith-Howard will not travel to Windhoek.
“We didn't get enough time to prepare. My lawyer and I will only be available again from the end of January 2022 and have therefore requested that the hearing be postponed,” she said.
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