The Namibian has reliably established that the Minister Without Portfolio, Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, and DTA President Katuutire Kaura have both tendered their resignation letters to the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Sources close to the two said yesterday that they needed the pension money "badly".

Tjiriange, appointed Minister Without Portfolio in May 2003, confirmed that he had resigned.

He said it was for personal reasons.

"There is nothing sinister or nothing wrong. People are panicking for nothing. I relieved myself for personal reasons," Tjiriange told The Namibian.

He has resigned as Minister Without Portfolio and from the National Assembly.

"I want to be at the party [Swapo] head office full-time to strengthen the party. It is just a practical issue," he said, adding that he did not intend to return to the NA after March 21 when the new MPs will be sworn in.

Tjiriange is number one on the Swapo list of candidates for the National Assembly.

When pressed for more information, Tjiriange caved in.

The former Justice Minister said that he might return if "really convinced by Swapo to do so".

"My personal problems cannot overwrite the interests of the country. For now, I am only assessing my responsibilities," he said.

Sources said both Tjiriange and Kaura needed pension money to sort out their debts.

Not even senior DTA members knew about Kaura's resignation.

"We heard the rumours. Unfortunately, we have not seen anything to that effect," said one source.

DTA Administrative Secretary Rudolph Kamburona said there was nothing on paper and he should be among the first to know if it happened.

Kaura also denied the reports.

"I ain't going nowhere. I'll be around. Don't worry about that," he said.

"You can't get rid of me that easily."

Rumours that Kaura was about to resign to access his pension money first surfaced two weeks ago.

The two will not be the first to follow this route.

In the past, traditional leaders-cum-politicians Justus //Garoeb of the UDF and Kuaima Riruako of Nudo resigned so that they could use their pension money.

//Garoeb said at the time that he had quit to do research while Riruako, then with the DTA, said it was personal.

Both later returned to the National Assembly.

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