Congress petitioners slow down after making CC
Kaumbi left to fend for himself
After retaining their positions in the central committee following a recount, those who questioned its legality have gone into hibernation.
Three politicians who threatened to sue Swapo for its decision to recount disputed central committee votes - fearing they might lose their positions - have allegedly abandoned such plans after retaining their status following the recount.
Central committee members Tommy Nambahu, Erginus Endjala and Paulus Kapia, through their lawyers Kadhila Amoomo Legal Practitioners, issued a stern warning to party secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa that her directive ordering a recount was unlawful.
This has provided fodder for critics who questioned the real motif behind the legal threats, with some saying it was done merely to protect their personal interests - that of being on the initial central committee list - instead of a genuine concern that party procedures are adhered to.
“Unlawfully and without the authorisation of the newly elected central committee, your office has directed that the returning officer [Joshua Kaumbi] should attend to a process of recounting, verification and certification post the announcement of the election results,” the trio said in a letter of demand, dated 2 December.
They also told Shaningwa the ‘top four’ leadership of Swapo, which is not a constitutional body, does not have the mandate to hear an election appeal or to order a recount.
Shaningwa turned a blind eye to their threats and told them the recounting process would take place regardless.
Amoomo did not give a definite answer when asked whether his clients would proceed with the lawsuit, seeing that the party refused to budge on their demands.
“My clients are dedicated and disciplined members of the Swapo Party. We will review the report by the returning officer once it is made available to us. At this stage, my clients’ energies are aimed at uniting the party,” he said yesterday.
Three sources, who are party leaders and close to the trio, said they will not proceed with legal action after the recount confirmed that they are still members of the central committee.
Self-interest
Commenting on the matter, political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said if it is true that the trio has abandoned plans to challenge the party’s decision to do a recount, “it affirms the notion that politicians are only there for their own interests”.
“When I saw the second list and saw their names on it, I wondered about whether they will proceed with legal action. We have a problem in this country with politicians getting positions for their own interests.
"Principally, they were right to question the recount because procedurally it was not done correctly - only the central committee and politburo can sanction it,” Kamwanyah said.
He added: “The move was right, but the fact that they are quiet now tells us what our politics has become in Namibia, it is all about personal interests and no longer processes, systems and institutions. This is problematic in Swapo and opposition parties too”.
He said the three should follow through on their threats, as it will help the party to improve its systems going forward.
“Up to now, the members do not know the methodological differences between the first and second list. We see a lot of people on the second list that were not on the first list and the arrangements of the lists also vary.
“For instance, John Mutorwa was first on the initial list but on the second one, Iipumbu Shiimi was first - what happened there?”
Kamwanyah also said “the timeframe it took to count the central committee votes, which are just over 700, is a clear sign of mediocrity”.
Time constraints
However, while appearing on the Evening Review show last night, presiding officer Kaumbi said he did not have enough time with his team to thoroughly prepare for the task at hand.
“It was a delicate congress and I had no support system. I was appointed on Wednesday and congress started on Thursday. I could not consult the secretary-general and the executive director, otherwise I would be accused of being in their camp, hence I was left to fend for myself without any records as well,” he explained.
He also indicated that he had approached his predecessor, Sisa Namdandje, for advice on how to handle the situation.
“When I got the assignment, I called Sisa to get insight about the whole process, but not much came from it because he was afraid that should the outcome be a certain way, he could be accused of influencing the process. I had to start the process from scratch and it was a difficult task, but I am glad we bounced back,” a relieved Kaumbi said.
Central committee members Tommy Nambahu, Erginus Endjala and Paulus Kapia, through their lawyers Kadhila Amoomo Legal Practitioners, issued a stern warning to party secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa that her directive ordering a recount was unlawful.
This has provided fodder for critics who questioned the real motif behind the legal threats, with some saying it was done merely to protect their personal interests - that of being on the initial central committee list - instead of a genuine concern that party procedures are adhered to.
“Unlawfully and without the authorisation of the newly elected central committee, your office has directed that the returning officer [Joshua Kaumbi] should attend to a process of recounting, verification and certification post the announcement of the election results,” the trio said in a letter of demand, dated 2 December.
They also told Shaningwa the ‘top four’ leadership of Swapo, which is not a constitutional body, does not have the mandate to hear an election appeal or to order a recount.
Shaningwa turned a blind eye to their threats and told them the recounting process would take place regardless.
Amoomo did not give a definite answer when asked whether his clients would proceed with the lawsuit, seeing that the party refused to budge on their demands.
“My clients are dedicated and disciplined members of the Swapo Party. We will review the report by the returning officer once it is made available to us. At this stage, my clients’ energies are aimed at uniting the party,” he said yesterday.
Three sources, who are party leaders and close to the trio, said they will not proceed with legal action after the recount confirmed that they are still members of the central committee.
Self-interest
Commenting on the matter, political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said if it is true that the trio has abandoned plans to challenge the party’s decision to do a recount, “it affirms the notion that politicians are only there for their own interests”.
“When I saw the second list and saw their names on it, I wondered about whether they will proceed with legal action. We have a problem in this country with politicians getting positions for their own interests.
"Principally, they were right to question the recount because procedurally it was not done correctly - only the central committee and politburo can sanction it,” Kamwanyah said.
He added: “The move was right, but the fact that they are quiet now tells us what our politics has become in Namibia, it is all about personal interests and no longer processes, systems and institutions. This is problematic in Swapo and opposition parties too”.
He said the three should follow through on their threats, as it will help the party to improve its systems going forward.
“Up to now, the members do not know the methodological differences between the first and second list. We see a lot of people on the second list that were not on the first list and the arrangements of the lists also vary.
“For instance, John Mutorwa was first on the initial list but on the second one, Iipumbu Shiimi was first - what happened there?”
Kamwanyah also said “the timeframe it took to count the central committee votes, which are just over 700, is a clear sign of mediocrity”.
Time constraints
However, while appearing on the Evening Review show last night, presiding officer Kaumbi said he did not have enough time with his team to thoroughly prepare for the task at hand.
“It was a delicate congress and I had no support system. I was appointed on Wednesday and congress started on Thursday. I could not consult the secretary-general and the executive director, otherwise I would be accused of being in their camp, hence I was left to fend for myself without any records as well,” he explained.
He also indicated that he had approached his predecessor, Sisa Namdandje, for advice on how to handle the situation.
“When I got the assignment, I called Sisa to get insight about the whole process, but not much came from it because he was afraid that should the outcome be a certain way, he could be accused of influencing the process. I had to start the process from scratch and it was a difficult task, but I am glad we bounced back,” a relieved Kaumbi said.
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