NDP leaders accuse Lukato of 'dictatorship'

Deep divisions are threatening to tear through the National Democratic Party (NDP), with at least two members publicly accusing party president Martin Lukato of turning the organisation into a “one-man” show, sidelining its constitution and concentrating control over party finances, appointments and grassroots structures.

Speaking to Namibian Sun over the weekend, two senior party figures, secretary general Alex Linyando and Zambezi regional coordinator Allen Mwilima, detailed a series of allegations they say point to a growing breakdown of internal democracy and accountability within the party.

Linyando claims Lukato changed after the NDP began receiving funding from the state for its one seat in the National Assembly. Parties are entitled to more than N$1 million per year per seat.

“Since the party started getting money, that's when Mr Lukato changed. He became a dictator,” Linyando argued.

He said party leaders are unsure how NDP funds are being used, claiming they have been denied access to proper financial statements detailing the party’s income, expenditure and balances.

Linyando alleged that the party constitution provides for the president, secretary general and treasurer to be signatories to its bank account.

He alleged that the treasurer was, however, removed, leaving Lukato and vice-president Zita Ndofu in control of the account.

He further alleged that the party receives N$1.4 million annually from the state, divided into quarterly payments of N$350 000, and raised concerns that senior leadership is in the dark about how the funds are spent.

“How this money is being used, we have no idea,” he said.

Deteriorating trust

Linyando also accused Lukato of using the ongoing constitutional review to avoid accountability.

“He has no respect for his own constitution. Every time we reference the constitution, he says the constitution is under review, sidelining our request,” he said.

According to Linyando, tensions escalated after he questioned a transaction involving party funds.

He claimed Lukato became angry and subsequently convened an urgent leadership meeting at which his removal as secretary general was allegedly proposed.

Mwilima painted a broader picture of what he described as a collapse of internal democracy within the party.

He said the NDP has thousands of members and established structures from branches and constituencies to regional level, yet key decisions are allegedly being made by one person.

“The decision is done just by one man,” Mwilima told Namibian Sun.

He claimed senior leaders had previously confronted Lukato with more than 10 questions concerning the constitution and his management of party structures, alleging that the president responded by saying he was “above the law”.

Mwilima accused Lukato of nepotism, alleging that the president's daughter handles both human resources and logistics responsibilities within the party.

He further alleged that Lukato has several personal assistants on the party’s payroll and alleged that the NDP’s two vehicles are in the possession of Lukato and his daughter.

“As I have already mentioned, that leadership is just only from one household,” he said.

Party turmoil

Mwilima further alleged that established party committees are being replaced by structures personally selected by Lukato. He claimed that when the party had limited funds, existing committees received little financial support, but that after funding became available, Lukato began personally selecting new working committees.

The regional coordinator also raised concerns about financial support for grassroots structures, alleging that funding requests are routinely reduced without adequate explanations, making it difficult for mobilisers to execute their duties.

He claimed that a request for N$20 000 could be cut to as little as N$2 000, with the basis for the reduction allegedly not communicated to those making the requests.

“Other parties have started with mobilisation and visiting different regional offices, but up till now we have done nothing due to lack of funds. It is frustrating,” he said.

When approached for comment, Lukato requested that the questions be sent to him formally by email. After receiving the questions, he declined to respond, saying the newspaper had not published any of the NDP's activities.

“It's not me, the paper itself stopped to engage us, not us,” he said.