‘Kapia of the South’ quits Swapo

A FORMER Karas Swapo regional executive committee member who was known among fellow party members as “the Kapia of the South” has quit the Swapo Party.

On Friday Josef Rooi confirmed to The Namibian that he had joined the new party RDP following his resignation from the Swapo Party last week Monday. In 2004, just before the Swapo Congress, Rooi relinquished his position as Mobilisation and Information Officer in the Karas Region because of internal squabbles between him and former Karas Swapo regional co-ordinator Hilma Nikanor.According to Rooi, he finally parted ways with Swapo because of continuous factional infighting between top cadres which hindered the party’s performance.He also said that he lived under constant suspicion while in the party.”When people saw one talking to fellows they dislike, you were immediately suspected of plotting something,” he said.He added that limitations on freedom to express opinions and disagreements led to his departure.”It has become common practice within Swapo Party not to express your unhappiness,” he said.Rooi also said he was constantly accused of under-performance.”They accused me of under-performing, but they were the ones who poured cold water on my initiatives,” he said, without mentioning names.In 2004, just before the Swapo Congress, Rooi relinquished his position as Mobilisation and Information Officer in the Karas Region because of internal squabbles between him and former Karas Swapo regional co-ordinator Hilma Nikanor.According to Rooi, he finally parted ways with Swapo because of continuous factional infighting between top cadres which hindered the party’s performance.He also said that he lived under constant suspicion while in the party.”When people saw one talking to fellows they dislike, you were immediately suspected of plotting something,” he said.He added that limitations on freedom to express opinions and disagreements led to his departure.”It has become common practice within Swapo Party not to express your unhappiness,” he said.Rooi also said he was constantly accused of under-performance.”They accused me of under-performing, but they were the ones who poured cold water on my initiatives,” he said, without mentioning names.