Diescho comes out fighting Tells Oshana Council: Say sorry, or be ready to face music

POLITICAL analyst Dr Joseph Diescho has asked the Oshana Regional Council to apologise to him or face a defamation claim of N$250 000.

Diescho’s lawyers, Koep and Partners, wrote to the Council demanding an apology after the regional councillors boycotted a training workshop arranged by the Office of the Prime Minister because it was to be presented by Diescho. Regional Governor Klemens Kashuupulwa claimed at a press conference last month that the regional government officials stayed away from the workshop because there was “no proper consultation between the Office of the Prime Minister and the Regional Council”.In the next breath he charged it was because Diescho was too critical for their liking.Kashuupulwa claimed that Diescho was “unjustifiably” critical of Government and to have someone like him present the workshop could open a political Pandora’s box.Diescho’s lawyers said the Oshana Council had questioned their client’s credibility and standing and that he continued to suffer damages amounting to N$250 000.”Failing payment thereof within ten (10) days hereof, alternatively you publishing an unreserved apology, the contents of which will have to be agreed upon with our client, we will issue summons against you for those damages without further delay,” the lawyers wrote in a letter to the Oshana Regional Council.The Namibian has it on good authority that the Council does not plan to make a public apology.Instead, they have instructed their lawyers to fight any lawsuit.The boycott sparked a heated public debate on National Radio and the Oshiwambo Service of the NBC.Kashuupulwa said earlier that the Office of the Prime Minister informed his office of the workshop in December, but he was only informed late in January that Dr Diescho would be the facilitator.He said the Regional Council decided on January 30 that it could not accept Diescho’s services because he had been known to criticise the Swapo-led Government and its leaders “in an unjustifiable manner”.The workshop was scheduled to take place on February 1 and 2.Regional Governor Klemens Kashuupulwa claimed at a press conference last month that the regional government officials stayed away from the workshop because there was “no proper consultation between the Office of the Prime Minister and the Regional Council”.In the next breath he charged it was because Diescho was too critical for their liking.Kashuupulwa claimed that Diescho was “unjustifiably” critical of Government and to have someone like him present the workshop could open a political Pandora’s box.Diescho’s lawyers said the Oshana Council had questioned their client’s credibility and standing and that he continued to suffer damages amounting to N$250 000. “Failing payment thereof within ten (10) days hereof, alternatively you publishing an unreserved apology, the contents of which will have to be agreed upon with our client, we will issue summons against you for those damages without further delay,” the lawyers wrote in a letter to the Oshana Regional Council.The Namibian has it on good authority that the Council does not plan to make a public apology.Instead, they have instructed their lawyers to fight any lawsuit.The boycott sparked a heated public debate on National Radio and the Oshiwambo Service of the NBC.Kashuupulwa said earlier that the Office of the Prime Minister informed his office of the workshop in December, but he was only informed late in January that Dr Diescho would be the facilitator.He said the Regional Council decided on January 30 that it could not accept Diescho’s services because he had been known to criticise the Swapo-led Government and its leaders “in an unjustifiable manner”.The workshop was scheduled to take place on February 1 and 2.