Disunity? What’s that, asks Ulenga

A WALKOUT by nearly half of the 300 delegates at the extraordinary congress of the main opposition party on Sunday did not matter much and is not a sign of disunity, its leader says.

Ben Ulenga yesterday tried to play down a rift in the Congress of Democrats (CoD), which appears as deep as the Fish River Canyon and saw three former top members stripped of their ranks. Addressing a press conference in Windhoek, Ulenga, who was re-elected as party president at the Keetmanshoop congress, maintained that there were just “misunderstandings” among party members and “the feeling that no structures were in place”.Ulenga was speaking in the wake of an extraordinary congress at which well over 100 people walked out, including some of the party’s brightest and most articulate leaders.Not only was there a mass walkout, but the delegates who turned their backs on proceedings, which they claim were “manipulated” and “hijacked”, included representatives of half of the party’s 15 political regions.”We have a new team now and we will reorganise CoD, resuscitate the party newsletter, the website and set up proper branches in the regions,” Ulenga said.Asked why the activities he mentioned had not taken place under his leadership up until now, and under the previous “team” of which he was a also member, he said the main activity of the office of the secretary general was to establish branches, insinuating that the previous person in that post had not done that.Prominent CoD members like former Vice President Nora Schimming-Chase and Ignatius Shixwameni however blamed Ulenga for a weak leadership style over the past years, which had seen rumour mongering and tribalism mushroom.After the walkout of the group under the second presidential candidate, Ignatius Shixwameni, who narrowly lost against Ulenga by 14 votes, Ulenga maintained that proceedings continued “normally” and that all the remaining leadership posts were voted on.”We had the majority of delegates remaining at the venue,” he claimed.Tsudao Gurirab, who did not join the walkout and retained his position as national chairman, said 168 of the 309 delegates who attended the congress remained.”We have the list typed and made available at our office as from Tuesday [today],” he said.According to former Secretary General Kala Gertze, who is part of the group who took issue with the proceedings, 159 “rebels” left the hall.”We took down the names and made all those who joined the walkout sign it [the list],” he told The Namibian.However, 159 and 168 add up to 327 delegates, and officially only 309 were registered at the congress.The group claimed that they walked out because Ulenga supporters were “smuggled in as delegates”, and because of the type of lobbying use to tip the scale in favour of Ulenga.”Extra people were bussed in from the North, they were school-goers, and delegates from the four O Regions were just used as voting cattle for Ulenga,” a disgruntled delegate told The Namibian at Keetmanshoop over the weekend.They also claimed that Ulenga manipulated voter support from the Caprivi delegation by offering the vice presidency to Alfred Chilinda from that region.The rebel faction will hold a press conference today.Addressing a press conference in Windhoek, Ulenga, who was re-elected as party president at the Keetmanshoop congress, maintained that there were just “misunderstandings” among party members and “the feeling that no structures were in place”.Ulenga was speaking in the wake of an extraordinary congress at which well over 100 people walked out, including some of the party’s brightest and most articulate leaders.Not only was there a mass walkout, but the delegates who turned their backs on proceedings, which they claim were “manipulated” and “hijacked”, included representatives of half of the party’s 15 political regions.”We have a new team now and we will reorganise CoD, resuscitate the party newsletter, the website and set up proper branches in the regions,” Ulenga said.Asked why the activities he mentioned had not taken place under his leadership up until now, and under the previous “team” of which he was a also member, he said the main activity of the office of the secretary general was to establish branches, insinuating that the previous person in that post had not done that.Prominent CoD members like former Vice President Nora Schimming-Chase and Ignatius Shixwameni however blamed Ulenga for a weak leadership style over the past years, which had seen rumour mongering and tribalism mushroom.After the walkout of the group under the second presidential candidate, Ignatius Shixwameni, who narrowly lost against Ulenga by 14 votes, Ulenga maintained that proceedings continued “normally” and that all the remaining leadership posts were voted on.”We had the majority of delegates remaining at the venue,” he claimed.Tsudao Gurirab, who did not join the walkout and retained his position as national chairman, said 168 of the 309 delegates who attended the congress remained.”We have the list typed and made available at our office as from Tuesday [today],” he said.According to former Secretary General Kala Gertze, who is part of the group who took issue with the proceedings, 159 “rebels” left the hall.”We took down the names and made all those who joined the walkout sign it [the list],” he told The Namibian.However, 159 and 168 add up to 327 delegates, and officially only 309 were registered at the congress.The group claimed that they walked out because Ulenga supporters were “smuggled in as delegates”, and because of the type of lobbying use to tip the scale in favour of Ulenga.”Extra people were bussed in from the North, they were school-goers, and delegates from the four O Regions were just used as voting cattle for Ulenga,” a disgruntled delegate told The Namibian at Keetmanshoop over the weekend.They also claimed that Ulenga manipulated voter support from the Caprivi delegation by offering the vice presidency to Alfred Chilinda from that region.The rebel faction will hold a press conference today.