Kanime raps SPYL over the knuckles

THE Swapo Youth League either does not understand the workings of the Electoral Commission or is out to dramatise events surrounding the registration of the new Rally for Democracy and Progress party, Director of Elections Philemon Kanime told The Namibian yesterday.

He was reacting to allegations that he had failed to inform the ruling party leadership about the registration of RDP and was thus sympathetic to the new party. “The Youth League can say anything they want about the registration of the new party.We are not obliged to report to anybody when somebody applies.We have not done so with Nudo and other parties.Why the need now?” Kanime said.According to the Elections Director, his only duty is to receive the application, call a meeting of the electoral commissioners and await their instructions after consulting on the application.”After the commissioners were satisfied that the application met all the criteria, they told me to register the party.This is not the first party we registered without informing anyone.There is nothing wrong.I don’t know what they expect me to do,” he said.The Youth League condemned Kanime’s “dubious conduct” in registering RDP.The Youth League claimed he was a sympathiser of the new party.The regional secretary for Oshana Region, Ester Fillemon, said Kanime should have informed President Hifikepunye Pohamba about the application, as the President had appointed him.She urged the Government to launch an investigation into RDP’s registration and called for Kanime’s immediate resignation.Kanime said he would not resign because he had done nothing wrong.”Why should I resign? What have I done? Maybe they are saying I should have rejected the party’s application.However, I was not the one who approved it,” he said.The Director of Elections also clarified what he described as confusion around a statement printed in a local newspaper.The newspaper reported that Kanime had said that President Pohamba should have called him if he wanted to know about the registration status of the new party because he had his telephone number.”I was misquoted.I said if at all State House was interested, there were many people who have our numbers and could call and check.I never said the President had the liberty to call me,” he said.Kanime said he knew his duties at the Election Commission and would be transparent to anybody “without having any favour”.”I am just doing my job.It’s not my institution.It is an institution for anybody.The Youth League just wants to dramatise things or does not understand the ECN setup,” he said.He expressed the hope that Youth League members would follow his example if they take over at the ECN one day.”We should do our work with integrity,” he said.”The Youth League can say anything they want about the registration of the new party.We are not obliged to report to anybody when somebody applies.We have not done so with Nudo and other parties.Why the need now?” Kanime said.According to the Elections Director, his only duty is to receive the application, call a meeting of the electoral commissioners and await their instructions after consulting on the application.”After the commissioners were satisfied that the application met all the criteria, they told me to register the party.This is not the first party we registered without informing anyone.There is nothing wrong.I don’t know what they expect me to do,” he said.The Youth League condemned Kanime’s “dubious conduct” in registering RDP. The Youth League claimed he was a sympathiser of the new party.The regional secretary for Oshana Region, Ester Fillemon, said Kanime should have informed President Hifikepunye Pohamba about the application, as the President had appointed him.She urged the Government to launch an investigation into RDP’s registration and called for Kanime’s immediate resignation.Kanime said he would not resign because he had done nothing wrong.”Why should I resign? What have I done? Maybe they are saying I should have rejected the party’s application.However, I was not the one who approved it,” he said.The Director of Elections also clarified what he described as confusion around a statement printed in a local newspaper.The newspaper reported that Kanime had said that President Pohamba should have called him if he wanted to know about the registration status of the new party because he had his telephone number.”I was misquoted.I said if at all State House was interested, there were many people who have our numbers and could call and check.I never said the President had the liberty to call me,” he said.Kanime said he knew his duties at the Election Commission and would be transparent to anybody “without having any favour”.”I am just doing my job.It’s not my institution.It is an institution for anybody.The Youth League just wants to dramatise things or does not understand the ECN setup,” he said.He expressed the hope that Youth League members would follow his example if they take over at the ECN one day.”We should do our work with integrity,” he said.