Councillor faces fraud claims as nomination race heats up

A SWAPO Regional Councillor in Hardap faces charges of fraud, in what appears to be a battle for nomination to the ruling party’s elections list.

Charges have been laid against Mariental Urban constituency councillor Petrus van Zyl, for allegedly misappropriating N$9 500 from the Constituency Development Committee (CDC) fund. The charges were laid shortly after Swapo district co-ordinator, Francis Basson, was released on N$800 bail for allegedly embezzling N$7 000 from the same account.It is alleged that charges against Van Zyl were laid in a tit-for-tat move by Basson’s husband who is the Secretary of the CDC.But the accusations point to a continuing rift between supporters of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Hidipo Hamutenya and Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba and President Sam Nujoma.Francis Basson has publicly supported Hamutenya in the race for the nomination of a Swapo presidential candidate.At the time she was at loggerheads with Lucia Basson, Swapo’s Hardap regional coordinator, who backed Pohamba in the race at the urging of President Nujoma.Van Zyl, who has indicated he was leaving politics after the November elections, is considered to be a Pohamba supporter.Van Zyl made the forgery charges against Basson.Sources say the charges were laid only recently to disqualify Francis Basson a Swapo nominee for the Mariental Urban Constituency, eliminating her against hardline Nujoma followers.Constable Hendrik Blokstaan at the Mariental Police Station confirmed this week that the charges had been laid against the duo for misusing N$16 500 from the Mariental CBC fund.Van Zyl, accused of taking the N$9 500 without authorisation, declined to comment saying he wanted the matter to be dealt with by the courts.Francis Basson, who is a co-signatory on the CBC fund account, allegedly forged signatures on a savings account and cashed in on N$ 7 000.Basson has also refused to comment, saying the case was sub-judice.- Additional reporting by Tangeni AmupadhiThe charges were laid shortly after Swapo district co-ordinator, Francis Basson, was released on N$800 bail for allegedly embezzling N$7 000 from the same account.It is alleged that charges against Van Zyl were laid in a tit-for-tat move by Basson’s husband who is the Secretary of the CDC.But the accusations point to a continuing rift between supporters of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Hidipo Hamutenya and Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba and President Sam Nujoma.Francis Basson has publicly supported Hamutenya in the race for the nomination of a Swapo presidential candidate.At the time she was at loggerheads with Lucia Basson, Swapo’s Hardap regional coordinator, who backed Pohamba in the race at the urging of President Nujoma.Van Zyl, who has indicated he was leaving politics after the November elections, is considered to be a Pohamba supporter.Van Zyl made the forgery charges against Basson.Sources say the charges were laid only recently to disqualify Francis Basson a Swapo nominee for the Mariental Urban Constituency, eliminating her against hardline Nujoma followers.Constable Hendrik Blokstaan at the Mariental Police Station confirmed this week that the charges had been laid against the duo for misusing N$16 500 from the Mariental CBC fund.Van Zyl, accused of taking the N$9 500 without authorisation, declined to comment saying he wanted the matter to be dealt with by the courts.Francis Basson, who is a co-signatory on the CBC fund account, allegedly forged signatures on a savings account and cashed in on N$ 7 000.Basson has also refused to comment, saying the case was sub-judice.- Additional reporting by Tangeni Amupadhi