Accusations fly at Karas Swapo meeting

INFIGHTING marred a Swapo Party meeting held at Keetmanshoop over the weekend, The Namibian was informed.

The aim of the regional meeting – called by the party’s top brass – was to create a platform to iron out differences based on tribal lines among the party’s regional leaders, The Namibian was told. A party insider said infighting fuelled by Swapo members aligning with opposition leaders took centre stage at the meeting.Some leaders hurled accusations at each other for supporting opposition parties, the source said.According to a source, local authority councillor Finna Elago accused the Mayor of Keetmanshoop, Simon Petrus Tiboth, in his absence of “lacking commitment to party affairs”.She alleged that Tiboth had reclaimed the position of Mayor during an election in May because of his close alliance of opposition members serving in the Town Council.Former Governor Stephanus Goliath came out in support of Tiboth, accusing Elago of using the same tactics – aligning with opposition members – when she dethroned Tiboth in last year’s mayoral election.Goliath said Swapo local authority candidates had done this often over the years to secure the position of Mayor.Tiboth, who is a clergyman, did not attend the meeting because of church commitments.Elago also took a swipe at Member of Parliament Hansina Christiaans, claiming she had known about plans for the formation of the Democratic Party of Namibia (DPN), The Namibian was informed.Elago alleged that these plans were hatched in a house belonging to Christiaans’ family – which Christiaans denied.Elago refused to comment when contacted, saying she was not prepared to discuss party issues in the media.On his part, local councillor Basil Brown accused Elago of aligning with RDP member Josef Rooi.He said Elago apparently travelled to the north with Rooi, a council employee, when the RDP party held a rally there.Elago allegedly chose Rooi as driver although an official council driver was available.”She went to the extent of proposing that Rooi become the acting CEO of the Council,” Brown said, according to the source.Elago did not respond to Brown’s allegations, the source added.When approached by The Namibian, Brown acknowledged that he had levelled the allegations at Elago during the meeting.”There is nothing to hide since it’s the truth,” he added.A party insider said infighting fuelled by Swapo members aligning with opposition leaders took centre stage at the meeting.Some leaders hurled accusations at each other for supporting opposition parties, the source said.According to a source, local authority councillor Finna Elago accused the Mayor of Keetmanshoop, Simon Petrus Tiboth, in his absence of “lacking commitment to party affairs”.She alleged that Tiboth had reclaimed the position of Mayor during an election in May because of his close alliance of opposition members serving in the Town Council.Former Governor Stephanus Goliath came out in support of Tiboth, accusing Elago of using the same tactics – aligning with opposition members – when she dethroned Tiboth in last year’s mayoral election.Goliath said Swapo local authority candidates had done this often over the years to secure the position of Mayor.Tiboth, who is a clergyman, did not attend the meeting because of church commitments.Elago also took a swipe at Member of Parliament Hansina Christiaans, claiming she had known about plans for the formation of the Democratic Party of Namibia (DPN), The Namibian was informed.Elago alleged that these plans were hatched in a house belonging to Christiaans’ family – which Christiaans denied.Elago refused to comment when contacted, saying she was not prepared to discuss party issues in the media.On his part, local councillor Basil Brown accused Elago of aligning with RDP member Josef Rooi.He said Elago apparently travelled to the north with Rooi, a council employee, when the RDP party held a rally there.Elago allegedly chose Rooi as driver although an official council driver was available.”She went to the extent of proposing that Rooi become the acting CEO of the Council,” Brown said, according to the source.Elago did not respond to Brown’s allegations, the source added.When approached by The Namibian, Brown acknowledged that he had levelled the allegations at Elago during the meeting.”There is nothing to hide since it’s the truth,” he added.