Recalled ‘rebels’ threaten Swapo

Kenya Kambowe

Three recalled Swapo councillors say they will be approaching the courts.

Swapo recalled three of its Rundu councillors, including newly elected mayor Isack Kandingu, for defying a directive that the town’s office-bearers structure should remain the same.

The other recalled councillors are deputy mayor Toini Hausiku, who is the wife of Swapo deputy secretary-general Marco Hausiku, and Anastacia Shinduvi-Foya.

The trio said yesterday they have decided that their dismissal from their positions will be challenged in court.

They told Namibian Sun they have already consulted their lawyers.

“We have received the letter from the party and we will definitely take the matter to court. We were advised by our lawyers not to say more at this stage as it could jeopardise our case,” they said.

According to a letter dated 12 February and signed by Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa the three councillors were recalled because they defied the party’s directive last Thursday during the election and swearing-in ceremony of office-bearers for the Rundu town council.

Shaningwa’s directive was that Verna Sinimbo retains her position as mayor and that she should again be deputised by Ralph Ihemba.

The SG said in her letter addressed to Swapo Kavango East regional coordinator Ottilie Shinduvi that the party is disappointed by the fact that the three recalled councillors did not only defy her directive, they also nominated and elected an opposition councillor to serve on the management committee.

Shaningwa also stated that Johanna Kakondo, Ngondo Johannes and Sarafina Kandere will replace the recalled councillors. The letter does not indicate when their swearing-in ceremony will take place.

Meanwhile, Rundu residents who spoke on condition of anonymity have questioned why Swapo did not recall all five councillors at the town.

They argued that in November 2018 all six of Swapo’s Oshakati councillors were recalled when they defied Shaningwa’s directive by electing Katrina Shimbulu as chairperson of the management committee instead of Onesmus Shilunga.

“This is pure victimisation of the Kavango people. When it happened in Oshakati, all councillors were recalled and disciplined to rectify the issue, but in Rundu’s case only three were recalled and replaced without being disciplined. Swapo has rules and procedures as well as a code of conduct on how to deal with these issues,” one resident said.

When contacted for comment yesterday, Shaningwa refused to entertain any questions.

Last week lawyer Silas-Kishi Shakumu told Namibian Sun political parties have no legal basis to force councillors to maintain or change the status quo when it comes to the election and swearing-in of office-bearers.

Drama

In a dramatic twist last week, Kandingu was elected and sworn in as Rundu mayor, replacing Sinimbo, while Hausiku was elected as deputy mayor, replacing Ihemba.

Shinduvi-Foya and Matheus Wakudumo from the All People’s Party (APP) were elected onto the management committee, while a third member of the committee was still to be elected.

Sinimbo, Ihemba and Reginald Ndara would have served as ordinary members of the town council, but this was before Shaningwa threw the cat among the pigeons.

Both the Rundu and Okahandja councils were given an ultimatum by the party last Monday to have their swearing-in ceremonies on 7 February, after Shaningwa’s earlier directives were defied in November last year.

In the case of Rundu, Shaningwa had said there should be no changes to the office-bearers structure, while in Okahandja she instructed that mayor Johannes ‘Congo’ Hindjou be demoted to an ordinary council member.

Only the Rundu town council went ahead last week with its election and swearing-in ceremony, while in Okahandja there was postponement because of the unavailability of a magistrate.