CoD disunity far from over

A HIGH Court ruling made last week, which ordered the main opposition party Congress of Democrats (CoD) to reinstate the membership of six expelled members and to “restore them to their positions”, would not require the party to reinstate one of the six as Chief Whip in Parliament, a young CoD member told the media yesterday.

Natji Tjirera, who calls himself “CoD party spokesperson”, although after the court ruling he should not hold that title any more, told a press briefing which he arranged that “six individuals sought relief from the High Court (to be reinstated) which was granted,” Tjirera said. He reacted angrily to a news report in a local daily this week which reported that two of the reinstated CoD members, Nora Schimming-Chase and Moses Katjiuongua, on Monday walked out of the first joint CoD leadership meeting following this week’s judgement.At the meeting on Monday, Schimming-Chase reportedly objected to the presence of “suspended” CoD youth leader Kalimbo Ipumbu and he was asked to leave.According to Tjirera, Ipumbu was suspended in February 2007, but no disciplinary hearing had taken place.”According to the CoD constitution, if no disciplinary hearing takes place within 90 days of a suspension, the (temporary) suspension shall lapse.As such, Ipumbu is the Secretary General of the Young Democrats and also an ex officio member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), which held a regular meeting on Monday,” Tjirera explained.He however did not say why the six expelled CoD members were not reinstated after 90 days last year, since no disciplinary hearing was arranged for them.Asked why CoD Vice-President Schimming-Chase, who was also the party’s Chief Whip in the National Assembly until the Keetmanshoop congress, was restored as Vice-President but not as Chief Whip, Tjirera noted that the parliamentary post was not subject to elections.He said another CoD parliamentarian was appointed as Chief Whip after the Keetmanshoop congress.On the question if the High Court did not order the CoD last week to restore the party leadership to the pre-Keetmanshoop situation, Tjirera retorted: “We could be vindictive and appeal against the court ruling, but we will follow the letter and spirit of the court ruling.Approached for comment, Schimming-Chase merely said the preparation for the party congress as ordered by Judge Muller would be started.The next CoD leadership meeting is scheduled for August 2.He reacted angrily to a news report in a local daily this week which reported that two of the reinstated CoD members, Nora Schimming-Chase and Moses Katjiuongua, on Monday walked out of the first joint CoD leadership meeting following this week’s judgement.At the meeting on Monday, Schimming-Chase reportedly objected to the presence of “suspended” CoD youth leader Kalimbo Ipumbu and he was asked to leave.According to Tjirera, Ipumbu was suspended in February 2007, but no disciplinary hearing had taken place.”According to the CoD constitution, if no disciplinary hearing takes place within 90 days of a suspension, the (temporary) suspension shall lapse.As such, Ipumbu is the Secretary General of the Young Democrats and also an ex officio member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), which held a regular meeting on Monday,” Tjirera explained.He however did not say why the six expelled CoD members were not reinstated after 90 days last year, since no disciplinary hearing was arranged for them.Asked why CoD Vice-President Schimming-Chase, who was also the party’s Chief Whip in the National Assembly until the Keetmanshoop congress, was restored as Vice-President but not as Chief Whip, Tjirera noted that the parliamentary post was not subject to elections.He said another CoD parliamentarian was appointed as Chief Whip after the Keetmanshoop congress.On the question if the High Court did not order the CoD last week to restore the party leadership to the pre-Keetmanshoop situation, Tjirera retorted: “We could be vindictive and appeal against the court ruling, but we will follow the letter and spirit of the court ruling.Approached for comment, Schimming-Chase merely said the preparation for the party congress as ordered by Judge Muller would be started.The next CoD leadership meeting is scheduled for August 2.