Moses returns to Swanu

VETERAN politician Moses Katjiuongua has returned to the South West African National Union (Swanu) fold after renouncing his Congress of Democrats (CoD) membership.

Katjiuongua was a founder member of Swanu, Namibia’s oldest political party, back in September 1959.Katjiuongua, a seasoned politician, joined the CoD a few years ago.’Swanu welcomes the courageous step taken by Comrade Katjiuongua in leaving CoD and re-associating himself with Swanu of Namibia,’ Swanu President Usutuaije Maamberua said at the weekend. ‘Swanu is the ultimate home of all those who have the interest of Namibians at heart. Considering that this is a historic and milestone year for Swanu, we call upon all those who had disassociated themselves from our party in the past to re-identify with Swanu in any manner.’ Swanu will be the first political party to celebrate a ‘golden jubilee’, 50 years of existence, as Maamberua called it – on September 27. The ruling Swapo Party will turn 50 in April next year. Former Namibian and Swapo President Sam Nujoma was also a Swanu founder member back in 1959. After returning from exile in 1982, Katjiuongua again became active in the party and took over the presidency from Gerson Veii. His decision to lead Swanu in a multi-party participatory political process with apartheid authorities caused a split in the party. Katjiuongua’s Swanu faction became the Namibia National Front, which won one parliamentary seat in the 1989 elections, which it held until 1999.