CoD ‘rebel’ faction reacts to Shixwameni’s resignation

THE walkout faction of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) opposition party say the resignation of their leader Ignatius Shixwameni, who staged the protest in May at the Keetmanshoop party congress, will “not antagonise” their relationship with him.

Shixwameni and about 21 others quit the party on Sunday, taking his CoD colleagues by surprise. “The national interim committee of the CoD Majority Group met on Monday to discuss the current situation and the ramifications of the resignation of Ignatius Shixwameni and others from the CoD and therewith leaving the Majority Group,” said Member of Parliament Kala Gertze yesterday.”We view this as undermining our common goals as set out in the CoD Majority meeting of August 11 2007.On the other hand, as part of the options we have considered, quitting the CoD and forming a new party has always remained a democratic option,” Gertze said on behalf of the group in a statement.”The matter will, as far as we are concerned, not necessarily antagonise our relationship with Mr Shixwameni and the rest of the colleagues.What is important now is that every action we all take or would take must finally safeguard and promote the aspirations of all our peoples.The marginalisation of certain social groups in Namibia is a reality and it needs to be handled with maturity and sensitivity.The CoD has by far been formed to cater for social and cultural diversity and that is what we would like to preserve.”The ‘rebel’ group was equally mindful of the frustrations amongst the rest of the party members and supporters of the CoD Majority and also of those supporters and members of CoD in general as a result of the current situation in the party, Gertze added.He said his group had a responsibility in terms of the assignments given to them by the majority group during a meeting on August 11, one being a court hearing in which they wanted CoD leader Ben Ulenga and his group to be called to adhere to an agreement both groups signed and to thus honouring the verdict of the Independent Audit Panel.”We have all, including the Ulenga faction, publicly committed ourselves to that honourable and mature approach in problem solving when we co-signed.Unfortunately Mr Ulenga and Tsudao Gurirab abandoned their own initiative because the outcome of the audit did not directly favour them,” Gertze’s statement said.”The court postponed the hearing to January 28 and 29 next year, but as leaders with that responsibility we are obliged to respect the common decision we have taken.”It would not be wise, although understandable, of each of us in the leadership to unilaterally abandon this responsibility,” Gertze said.”The resignation of Mr Shixwameni and other colleagues from CoD is definitely due to the untenable situation which we all find difficult to bear.”The ‘rebel’ faction will hold another meeting on January 26.Depending on the outcome of that meeting and the outcome of the court hearing, a decision would be taken.”In the meantime the National Interim Committee remains as is and will continue until the broader consultation in January 2007 and we would like to assure our members and supporters not to be too hasty in the midst of the current polarisation of Namibian politics and that of a number of political parties,” Gertze noted.Ulenga won a controversial re-election as party president at Keetmanshoop in May, narrowly garnering 14 votes more than Shixwameni, who walked out of the extraordinary congress with half the delegates.Since then both factions have claimed to be the majority group.Ulenga kicked Shixwameni out of the party, together with CoD parliamentarians Nora Schimming-Chase, Elma Dienda, Kala Gertze and Windhoek City Councillor Herbert Schultz.The five won an interim court order to remain in their positions until the outcome of the court case.”The national interim committee of the CoD Majority Group met on Monday to discuss the current situation and the ramifications of the resignation of Ignatius Shixwameni and others from the CoD and therewith leaving the Majority Group,” said Member of Parliament Kala Gertze yesterday.”We view this as undermining our common goals as set out in the CoD Majority meeting of August 11 2007.On the other hand, as part of the options we have considered, quitting the CoD and forming a new party has always remained a democratic option,” Gertze said on behalf of the group in a statement.”The matter will, as far as we are concerned, not necessarily antagonise our relationship with Mr Shixwameni and the rest of the colleagues.What is important now is that every action we all take or would take must finally safeguard and promote the aspirations of all our peoples.The marginalisation of certain social groups in Namibia is a reality and it needs to be handled with maturity and sensitivity.The CoD has by far been formed to cater for social and cultural diversity and that is what we would like to preserve.”The ‘rebel’ group was equally mindful of the frustrations amongst the rest of the party members and supporters of the CoD Majority and also of those supporters and members of CoD in general as a result of the current situation in the party, Gertze added.He said his group had a responsibility in terms of the assignments given to them by the majority group during a meeting on August 11, one being a court hearing in which they wanted CoD leader Ben Ulenga and his group to be called to adhere to an agreement both groups signed and to thus honouring the verdict of the Independent Audit Panel.”We have all, including the Ulenga faction, publicly committed ourselves to that honourable and mature approach in problem solving when we co-signed.Unfortunately Mr Ulenga and Tsudao Gurirab abandoned their own initiative because the outcome of the audit did not directly favour them,” Gertze’s statement said.”The court postponed the hearing to January 28 and 29 next year, but as leaders with that responsibility we are obliged to respect the common decision we have taken.”It would not be wise, although understandable, of each of us in the leadership to unilaterally abandon this responsibility,” Gertze said.”The resignation of Mr Shixwameni and other colleagues from CoD is definitely due to the untenable situation which we all find difficult to bear.”The ‘rebel’ faction will hold another meeting on January 26.Depending on the outcome of that meeting and the outcome of the court hearing, a decision would be taken.”In the meantime the National Interim Committee remains as is and will continue until the broader consultation in January 2007 and we would like to assure our members and supporters not to be too hasty in the midst of the current polarisation of Namibian politics and that of a number of political parties,” Gertze noted.Ulenga won a controversial re-election as party president at Keetmanshoop in May, narrowly garnering 14 votes more than Shixwameni, who walked out of the extraordinary congress with half the delegates.Since then both factions have claimed to be the majority group.Ulenga kicked Shixwameni out of the party, together with CoD parliamentarians Nora Schimming-Chase, Elma Dienda, Kala Gertze and Windhoek City Councillor Herbert Schultz.The five won an interim court order to remain in their positions until the outcome of the court case.