Infighting derails planned Swapo Karas conference

INFIGHTING among Swapo Party members is believed to have led to a district conference in the Karas Region being aborted.

The conference, which had been scheduled for this past weekend, was called to elect a new Swapo Party regional leadership. It has now been postponed indefinitely.Party insiders believe that regional co-ordinator Hilma Nikanor tried to “hijack” the election by hastily setting a conference date while knowing that party structures within the regional districts were not in place.It is claimed that Nikanor wants a candidate of her choice to be elected as her successor to secure her position as regional councillor for a next term in office.At present she is the Regional Councillor for the Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency.Party insiders told The Namibian that most of the districts – except for Berseba and Keetmanshoop Rural and Urban – called for the district conference to be postponed to get their house in order.The Swapo districts in Karas include Karasburg, Luederitz, Oranjemund, Keetmanshoop Urban, Keetmanshoop Rural and Berseba.According to party insiders, there is also a public outcry from Swapo supporters – especially in the Nama-speaking community – of the Westdene, Noordhoek and Tseiblaagte branches that party information is not channelled to them on time or never reaches them.The party insiders also said that Nama-speaking Swapo supporters had been voicing unhappiness that party leadership positions have been dominated by Oshiwambo-speaking members for the past three terms.Nikanor declined to comment when approached for her response on Wednesday.”I am not discussing party issues with the media,” she said.It has now been postponed indefinitely.Party insiders believe that regional co-ordinator Hilma Nikanor tried to “hijack” the election by hastily setting a conference date while knowing that party structures within the regional districts were not in place.It is claimed that Nikanor wants a candidate of her choice to be elected as her successor to secure her position as regional councillor for a next term in office.At present she is the Regional Councillor for the Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency.Party insiders told The Namibian that most of the districts – except for Berseba and Keetmanshoop Rural and Urban – called for the district conference to be postponed to get their house in order.The Swapo districts in Karas include Karasburg, Luederitz, Oranjemund, Keetmanshoop Urban, Keetmanshoop Rural and Berseba.According to party insiders, there is also a public outcry from Swapo supporters – especially in the Nama-speaking community – of the Westdene, Noordhoek and Tseiblaagte branches that party information is not channelled to them on time or never reaches them.The party insiders also said that Nama-speaking Swapo supporters had been voicing unhappiness that party leadership positions have been dominated by Oshiwambo-speaking members for the past three terms.Nikanor declined to comment when approached for her response on Wednesday.”I am not discussing party issues with the media,” she said.