Hanse-Himarwa in, Imbambah out

By: JAN POOLMAN

THE stage has been set for suspended Swapo members to freely participate in campaigning for their presidential hopefuls, which will reach a crescendo at the party’s congress at the end of the year.

The Swapo Politburo during its meeting on Monday evening decided that the suspension against at least three of its members be lifted but also directed that steps be taken against another one.
Hardap governor Katrina Hanse-Himarwa and the party’s coordinator for the region, Nico Mugenga, were suspended from Swapo’s executive regional committee in Hardap in 2010. Reasons were not publicly stated but had to do with allegations of divisions.
The Politburo decided that the suspension against the two be lifted.
A former MP and regional councillor of the Tsumeb constituency, Nico Kaiyamo, was also suspended in 2010. Late in April 2010 Kaiyamo was accused of being the brains behind the formation of a Tsumeb ratepayers’ association, which was allegedly established to challenge the Swapo-dominated town council.
Swapo party members are prohibited by the party constitution from belonging to any other ‘political formation’ and the ratepayers’ group is seen as such.
Kaiyamo now has to publicly denounce any affiliation to the ratepayers’ association, after which his suspension will be automatically be lifted.
However, in the case of Henties Bay’s Swapo councillor and former mayor, Paulus Imbambah, the Swapo leaders felt that his actions and attitude are not good for the party’s image.
Last year Imbambah was fined N$2 000 for assaulting Henties Bay mayor Gisela Cramer (66) with a telephone in her office and recently he again crossed swords with the law. He has also been implicated in several criminal cases in the past, involving drunken driving, assault, and fishing in a restricted area.
A decision was taken that Imbambah be withdrawn from the council and that he be replaced with another Swapo councillor.

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