Kapia defies Swapo Politburo directive

SUSPENDED Swapo Youth League Secretary General Paulus Kapia has defied an order from one of the party’s highest decision-making bodies by refusing to give up his seat in the National Assembly.

Swapo Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange confirmed yesterday that he had written to Kapia last month, asking him to resign from the National Assembly. Sources in the party claim Kapia consulted one of the party’s top leaders and was told not to resign.It was not clear yesterday why the influential leader, who serves in the politburo that ordered Kapia to resign, advised him to defy the order.Yesterday, Tjiriange said he did not know why Kapia had not resigned yet, but agreed that he was going against the politburo’s directive.Kapia was suspended from all party duties pending an internal investigation into his involvement in the bungled Avid-SSC N$30 million investment.The politburo steers the Central Committee, which directs the party’s political agenda and programmes.It consists of the party’s president and vice president, secretary general, deputy secretary general and 17 other members.It has the power to expel any member of the party except the president, vice president, secretary general and the deputy secretary general.Tjiriange said he wrote to Kapia on the instructions of the politburo and was awaiting further instructions from the Swapo body.”It is not up to me to act because it was not Tjiriange’s decision.The party is led by its leadership, who should decide what happens next.No timeframe was given to Kapia and I can’t say what will happen next.I can’t speculate on that because it would be useless to do that,” Tjiriange said.Swapo’s constitution states that the politburo must meet at least once a month and Tjiriange said it could be even three times in a week.”I call the meeting when instructed.The instruction can come from the party president or any member of the politburo,” he said.For Kapia, who resigned as Works Deputy Minister at the height of the High Court inquiry into the SSC’s dubious investment last month, it is business as usual in the National Assembly, where he serves as an ordinary member.If Kapia does not resign as MP, the only option Swapo has is to expel him from the party.Earlier, Kapia said he accepted and understood the decision to suspend him from all party positions.Sources in the party claim Kapia consulted one of the party’s top leaders and was told not to resign.It was not clear yesterday why the influential leader, who serves in the politburo that ordered Kapia to resign, advised him to defy the order.Yesterday, Tjiriange said he did not know why Kapia had not resigned yet, but agreed that he was going against the politburo’s directive.Kapia was suspended from all party duties pending an internal investigation into his involvement in the bungled Avid-SSC N$30 million investment.The politburo steers the Central Committee, which directs the party’s political agenda and programmes.It consists of the party’s president and vice president, secretary general, deputy secretary general and 17 other members.It has the power to expel any member of the party except the president, vice president, secretary general and the deputy secretary general.Tjiriange said he wrote to Kapia on the instructions of the politburo and was awaiting further instructions from the Swapo body.”It is not up to me to act because it was not Tjiriange’s decision.The party is led by its leadership, who should decide what happens next.No timeframe was given to Kapia and I can’t say what will happen next.I can’t speculate on that because it would be useless to do that,” Tjiriange said.Swapo’s constitution states that the politburo must meet at least once a month and Tjiriange said it could be even three times in a week.”I call the meeting when instructed.The instruction can come from the party president or any member of the politburo,” he said. For Kapia, who resigned as Works Deputy Minister at the height of the High Court inquiry into the SSC’s dubious investment last month, it is business as usual in the National Assembly, where he serves as an ordinary member.If Kapia does not resign as MP, the only option Swapo has is to expel him from the party.Earlier, Kapia said he accepted and understood the decision to suspend him from all party positions.