Funding for Swapo HQ sets cats among pigeons

A RECENT fundraising dinner organised by the ruling Swapo Party for its new national headquarters reverberated in the National Assembly last week.

CoD Member Tsudao Gurirab asked the Finance Minister if it was true that Agribank, a Government institution, had donated money for the project. The bank’s Managing Director, Dr Leonard Ipumbu, pledged N$20 000, allegedly on behalf of the bank, towards the project.Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila responded that she had been assured that “no payment was made by Agribank in favour of Swapo”.According to the Minister, contributions were made by individuals in their personal capacity.Swapo held a gala dinner at the end of September and collected about N$635 000 to buy a huge 3 726-square-metre plot in Khomasdal, which cost N$682 700.At the event, Agribank boss Ipumbu said Agribank would donate N$20 000.Similar pledges were made by the Trustco and Prowealth companies.Guests who attended the Swapo dinner told The Namibian that it had been their perception that Ipumbu had pledged the N$20 000 on behalf of the State-owned Agribank and not in his private capacity.Asked by Gurirab whether similar donations had been made to Swapo by State-owned enterprises or other political parties, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila merely replied that how they fulfilled their social responsibilities had to be decided by their boards of directors.”All State-owned enterprises are obliged to table their audited financial statements and any expense incurred for whatever purpose must be disclosed in those reports,” the Minister said.In a separate development, Prime Minister Nahas Angula had sent a letter to the Swakopmund municipality requesting donations for the new Swapo head office.In a letter dated August 31 2006, and printed on a Swapo letterhead, the Prime Minister “humbly requested” the municipality to donate funds in one of four categories: N$50 000 or more (platinum category), N$30 000 (diamond), N$20 000 (gold) or N$15 000 (silver).The Swakopmund Town Council discussed the matter during its monthly meeting on Tuesday last week.Councillor Paul Rooi, who chairs the Management Committee, told the other Councillors that the Committee had decided to book a table for N$5 000 for the Swapo gala event held in September at a Windhoek hotel.Rooi further noted that the Swakopmund municipality had requested the organisers to allow orphans and vulnerable children to sit at that table.At the town council meeting, UDF member Sophia Mutinga complained about the donation to the ruling party.She wanted to know whether the municipality would consider similar requests from other political parties.Rooi reportedly replied that such requests would be considered on merit.The bank’s Managing Director, Dr Leonard Ipumbu, pledged N$20 000, allegedly on behalf of the bank, towards the project.Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila responded that she had been assured that “no payment was made by Agribank in favour of Swapo”.According to the Minister, contributions were made by individuals in their personal capacity.Swapo held a gala dinner at the end of September and collected about N$635 000 to buy a huge 3 726-square-metre plot in Khomasdal, which cost N$682 700.At the event, Agribank boss Ipumbu said Agribank would donate N$20 000.Similar pledges were made by the Trustco and Prowealth companies.Guests who attended the Swapo dinner told The Namibian that it had been their perception that Ipumbu had pledged the N$20 000 on behalf of the State-owned Agribank and not in his private capacity.Asked by Gurirab whether similar donations had been made to Swapo by State-owned enterprises or other political parties, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila merely replied that how they fulfilled their social responsibilities had to be decided by their boards of directors.”All State-owned enterprises are obliged to table their audited financial statements and any expense incurred for whatever purpose must be disclosed in those reports,” the Minister said.In a separate development, Prime Minister Nahas Angula had sent a letter to the Swakopmund municipality requesting donations for the new Swapo head office.In a letter dated August 31 2006, and printed on a Swapo letterhead, the Prime Minister “humbly requested” the municipality to donate funds in one of four categories: N$50 000 or more (platinum category), N$30 000 (diamond), N$20 000 (gold) or N$15 000 (silver).The Swakopmund Town Council discussed the matter during its monthly meeting on Tuesday last week.Councillor Paul Rooi, who chairs the Management Committee, told the other Councillors that the Committee had decided to book a table for N$5 000 for the Swapo gala event held in September at a Windhoek hotel.Rooi further noted that the Swakopmund municipality had requested the organisers to allow orphans and vulnerable children to sit at that table.At the town council meeting, UDF member Sophia Mutinga complained about the donation to the ruling party.She wanted to know whether the municipality would consider similar requests from other political parties.Rooi reportedly replied that such requests would be considered on merit.