'PDM court woes a diversion'
PDM MP Vipuakuje Muharukua says these kinds of judgments are designed to stem the progress of the party and its agenda to improve the lives of Namibians.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) chief whip, Vipuakuje Muharukua, has claimed that this week's court hearing against the party was a diversion tactic to take the heat off Swapo's Fishrot woes.
He also said these kinds of judgments are designed to stem the progress of the PDM and its agenda to improve the lives of Namibians.
“But very crucially, the diversion is about the Fishrot scandal and for this week it has sort of helped the ruling party, but they shall not succeed with the fact that they are trying to guard where their money comes from.
“The Fishrot media briefing happened on Sunday, a day before this ruling.
“We are dealing with an establishment that has pulled out all the stops to control the system for their individual benefit,” Muharukua said at a media conference.
Landmark ruling
In a landmark ruling on Monday, PDM members Charmaine Tjirare and Hidipo Hamata won their High Court case in which they challenged their removal from the party's parliamentary list, which was gazetted just before last year's general election.
After the election, in which the PDM won 16 seats, the party removed six members from the gazetted list and replaced them with six new faces that were not gazetted, as is required by law.
This means that Tjirare, Hamata and four others on the original list will have to be accommodated in the PDM benches at the expense of sitting MPs Esmeralda !Aebes, Johannes Martin, Kazeongere Tjeundo, Godfrey Mwilima, Timotheus Shihumbu and Pieter Mostert.
However, the party has indicated it will appeal the High Court ruling.
Muharukua said it has always been the practice for political parties to inform the Electoral Commission of Namibia after elections who they will send to parliament.
He further dismissed claims that the PDM wants to remove youth leaders, saying the party has four MPs under the age of 40.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) chief whip, Vipuakuje Muharukua, has claimed that this week's court hearing against the party was a diversion tactic to take the heat off Swapo's Fishrot woes.
He also said these kinds of judgments are designed to stem the progress of the PDM and its agenda to improve the lives of Namibians.
“But very crucially, the diversion is about the Fishrot scandal and for this week it has sort of helped the ruling party, but they shall not succeed with the fact that they are trying to guard where their money comes from.
“The Fishrot media briefing happened on Sunday, a day before this ruling.
“We are dealing with an establishment that has pulled out all the stops to control the system for their individual benefit,” Muharukua said at a media conference.
Landmark ruling
In a landmark ruling on Monday, PDM members Charmaine Tjirare and Hidipo Hamata won their High Court case in which they challenged their removal from the party's parliamentary list, which was gazetted just before last year's general election.
After the election, in which the PDM won 16 seats, the party removed six members from the gazetted list and replaced them with six new faces that were not gazetted, as is required by law.
This means that Tjirare, Hamata and four others on the original list will have to be accommodated in the PDM benches at the expense of sitting MPs Esmeralda !Aebes, Johannes Martin, Kazeongere Tjeundo, Godfrey Mwilima, Timotheus Shihumbu and Pieter Mostert.
However, the party has indicated it will appeal the High Court ruling.
Muharukua said it has always been the practice for political parties to inform the Electoral Commission of Namibia after elections who they will send to parliament.
He further dismissed claims that the PDM wants to remove youth leaders, saying the party has four MPs under the age of 40.
[email protected]
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