Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) president Epafras Mukwiilongo has denied allegations of assaulting the party’s secretary general.
In a video circulating on social media this week, NEFF secretary general Festus Shaduva is seen sporting a swollen cheek, claiming the party president attacked him.
However, Mukwiilongo yesterday told The Namibian he has not had any contact with Shaduva.
“I don’t know that story.
That is a false story. I have not seen that person in months. I’m at the village,” he said.
The party president said he could not have assaulted Shaduva as he has been staying at Elim village in the Omusati region since last year.
Shaduva in the video claims the incident happened two weeks ago at Mukwiilongo’s shebeen, The Site, at Oshakati West.
He says Mukwiilongo attacked him with fists and kicked him after he (Shaduva) asked why the vehicles used in the party’s mobilisation campaign for the November elections were stationed at Elim.
“My concern was that the mobilisation was very weak, and time was not on our side. I didn’t want the cars to be based at Elim, because by the time we reached our destinations, we would already be late, and we were expected to return early so the driver could go back to Elim,” he says.
“Mukwiilongo doesn’t like anyone talking about the vehicles being at Elim. He got very angry and attacked me.
Maybe he has no respect for me, or maybe that’s just how he behaves,” Shaduva says.
He says he defended himself and managed to stop Mukwiilongo from continuing the attack before they were separated by onlookers.
He says he has not opened a police case against Mukwiilongo, as he considered it “cowardice” to do so.
Shaduva says he and Mukwiilongo spoke once after the alleged assault.
“I told him that such behaviour is unacceptable. When I spoke to him, he seemed remorseful, but you can never be sure if he was truly sincere,” he says.
Shaduva says Mukwiilongo was somewhat combative and denied assaulting him.
He says he is still considering whether he would remain a member of the party.
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