‘Shaningwa, deliver us from Shinduvi and Wakudumo’
A group of disgruntled Swapo members from Kavango East who protested in Rundu on Tuesday have petitioned the ruling party’s secretary-general, Sophia Shaningwa, to suspend the regional coordinator, Ottilie Shinduvi.
The group also called for the party to deal with Kavango East Regional governor Bonifatius Wakudumo, who is accused of interfering in party affairs despite having relinquished his former role as the party’s regional mobiliser after being appointed governor.
Wakudumo has not been replaced as the party’s regional mobiliser since his appointment as governor by President Hage Geingob in 2020.
In a petition to Shaningwa, the protesters demanded swift action against Shinduvi and Wakudumo, whom they accused of tribalism, nepotism, abusing party funds and tarnishing the image of the party.
They are further accused of widening the division among party members in the region instead of fostering unity.
“We will not allow any violation of the above provisions or any other laws enshrined in our party’s constitution by any person, whether by a member of Swapo Party or not, including the Shinduvis and the Wakudumos of this world while we’re watching,” the petition reads.
“We have lost trust and confidence in the current Swapo Party regional coordinator and the illegitimate regional mobiliser because these two comrades are continuously causing the Swapo Party in Kavango East region and Namibia as whole, irreparable harm and great reputational damage.
“We believe that Shinduvi and Wakudumo are self-serving and their continued presence in the offices of the Swapo Party will continue to inflict great suffering and pain on the Swapo and its bona fide members in Kavango East.”
The petition was received by the Swapo leader assigned to Kavango East, Hamunyera Hambyuka, who told the protesters that he would personally hand over the petition to Shaningwa.
By the time of going to print, Shaningwa had not received the petition.
Attempts to get comment from Shinduvi and Wakudumo proved futile at the time of going to print.
2020 haunts Shaningwa
In September 2020, the Swapo Kavango East Regional Executive Committee passed a motion of no confidence in both Shinduvi and Wakudumo.
At the time, Hambyuka received a petition which was addressed to Shaningwa.
Nearly two years later, no action has been taken by the political bureau of the party, which was one of the concerns raised in Tuesday’s petition.
“It was for this very same reason why the regional executive committee in 2020 passed a motion of no confidence in these two comrades, which is now before the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Swapo Party for decision. Now it's two years. Why?” the petition read.
When asked about the progress of this matter, Hambyuka said he had done his part, which was to hand over that 2020 petition. He said he had received no feedback and could not say why the matter was dragging on.
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The group also called for the party to deal with Kavango East Regional governor Bonifatius Wakudumo, who is accused of interfering in party affairs despite having relinquished his former role as the party’s regional mobiliser after being appointed governor.
Wakudumo has not been replaced as the party’s regional mobiliser since his appointment as governor by President Hage Geingob in 2020.
In a petition to Shaningwa, the protesters demanded swift action against Shinduvi and Wakudumo, whom they accused of tribalism, nepotism, abusing party funds and tarnishing the image of the party.
They are further accused of widening the division among party members in the region instead of fostering unity.
“We will not allow any violation of the above provisions or any other laws enshrined in our party’s constitution by any person, whether by a member of Swapo Party or not, including the Shinduvis and the Wakudumos of this world while we’re watching,” the petition reads.
“We have lost trust and confidence in the current Swapo Party regional coordinator and the illegitimate regional mobiliser because these two comrades are continuously causing the Swapo Party in Kavango East region and Namibia as whole, irreparable harm and great reputational damage.
“We believe that Shinduvi and Wakudumo are self-serving and their continued presence in the offices of the Swapo Party will continue to inflict great suffering and pain on the Swapo and its bona fide members in Kavango East.”
The petition was received by the Swapo leader assigned to Kavango East, Hamunyera Hambyuka, who told the protesters that he would personally hand over the petition to Shaningwa.
By the time of going to print, Shaningwa had not received the petition.
Attempts to get comment from Shinduvi and Wakudumo proved futile at the time of going to print.
2020 haunts Shaningwa
In September 2020, the Swapo Kavango East Regional Executive Committee passed a motion of no confidence in both Shinduvi and Wakudumo.
At the time, Hambyuka received a petition which was addressed to Shaningwa.
Nearly two years later, no action has been taken by the political bureau of the party, which was one of the concerns raised in Tuesday’s petition.
“It was for this very same reason why the regional executive committee in 2020 passed a motion of no confidence in these two comrades, which is now before the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Swapo Party for decision. Now it's two years. Why?” the petition read.
When asked about the progress of this matter, Hambyuka said he had done his part, which was to hand over that 2020 petition. He said he had received no feedback and could not say why the matter was dragging on.
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