Shimbulu pursues Swapo in court
30 April 2020 | Politics
ILENI NANDJATO
OSHAKATI
Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa has declined to say whether her party will oppose a High Court application brought by ousted Oshakati councillor Katrina Shimbulu.
Shimbulu is wants the High Court to declare the party's decision to remove her from the Oshakati town council unconstitutional and illegal.
On 24 April, Shimbulu through her lawyer Henry Shimutwikeni make the application against Swapo following a decision by the ruling party's Politburo to remove her as a councillor.
Right to oppose
The court has given Swapo five days to respond.
“I cannot pre-empt issues that are going the legal route. I do not want to act like those elements that are busy with breaking news. It is prudent for all of us to wait for the legal department to pronounce itself,” Shaningwa said when contacted. Shimbulu's lawyer, Shimutwikeni, claimed that the party's directive was illegal because his client had not been given an opportunity to be heard.
Demand
Shimbulu has asked the court to interdict Swapo from implementing the decision. She also wants to be immediately reinstated as town councillor. Shimbulu made a U-turn after resigning last year to stand as a Swapo candidate in the National Assembly election. She failed to make it into the new parliament after a dismal poll showing by the ruling party in which it lost its two-thirds majority and 14 seats.
OSHAKATI
Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa has declined to say whether her party will oppose a High Court application brought by ousted Oshakati councillor Katrina Shimbulu.
Shimbulu is wants the High Court to declare the party's decision to remove her from the Oshakati town council unconstitutional and illegal.
On 24 April, Shimbulu through her lawyer Henry Shimutwikeni make the application against Swapo following a decision by the ruling party's Politburo to remove her as a councillor.
Right to oppose
The court has given Swapo five days to respond.
“I cannot pre-empt issues that are going the legal route. I do not want to act like those elements that are busy with breaking news. It is prudent for all of us to wait for the legal department to pronounce itself,” Shaningwa said when contacted. Shimbulu's lawyer, Shimutwikeni, claimed that the party's directive was illegal because his client had not been given an opportunity to be heard.
Demand
Shimbulu has asked the court to interdict Swapo from implementing the decision. She also wants to be immediately reinstated as town councillor. Shimbulu made a U-turn after resigning last year to stand as a Swapo candidate in the National Assembly election. She failed to make it into the new parliament after a dismal poll showing by the ruling party in which it lost its two-thirds majority and 14 seats.
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