Nehova hospitalised over rumoured ‘expulsion’

THE Chairman of the National Council, Kandy Nehova, allegedly collapsed at the weekend and has been admitted to hospital after learning he would possibly be kicked out of Swapo.

The news follows an order from the Swapo head office to block newly elected Ongwediva councillors from being sworn in, and to replace them with people who were not on the party’s election campaign list before the recent municipal elections. At Swapo’s administrative and Politburo meetings last week, President Sam Nujoma reportedly accused Nehova of breaching party regulations and interfering with the nomination of the party candidates for the Ongwediva Town Council.The President demanded that Nehova be summarily dismissed from the organisation according to people present at both meetings.However, fellow Politburo members allegedly suggested that an investigation be launched instead.The Namibian understands Nehova will be suspended or expelled for allegedly “fomenting tribalism” and breaching party rules.Speaking from the Catholic Hospital on Tuesday, Nehova denied he had been suspended.He also said he was unaware of an investigation into his alleged involvement in the Swapo elections at Ongwediva.Nehova is the Regional Councillor for Ongwediva, where Swapo swept all seats in the municipal elections.”I know nothing about that; if there is such an investigation, nobody came to me to ask [tell] me about that.”Nehova confirmed that “I have heard that story too, that they [elected candidates] were told that they were withdrawn.There was no reason given, according to them.”People close to former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya believe Nujoma was targeting Nehova because he reportedly supports Hamutenya’s presidential aspirations.They have complained that Nujoma was using dirty tricks against Hamutenya in an attempt to stop him from being elected as Swapo’s presidential candidate for the elections at the end of the year.Nehova said he was not involved in the Swapo elections that ousted mainly sitting councillors in March and April.Attempts to solicit comment from Swapo headquarters proved futile.At Swapo’s administrative and Politburo meetings last week, President Sam Nujoma reportedly accused Nehova of breaching party regulations and interfering with the nomination of the party candidates for the Ongwediva Town Council.The President demanded that Nehova be summarily dismissed from the organisation according to people present at both meetings.However, fellow Politburo members allegedly suggested that an investigation be launched instead.The Namibian understands Nehova will be suspended or expelled for allegedly “fomenting tribalism” and breaching party rules.Speaking from the Catholic Hospital on Tuesday, Nehova denied he had been suspended.He also said he was unaware of an investigation into his alleged involvement in the Swapo elections at Ongwediva.Nehova is the Regional Councillor for Ongwediva, where Swapo swept all seats in the municipal elections.”I know nothing about that; if there is such an investigation, nobody came to me to ask [tell] me about that.”Nehova confirmed that “I have heard that story too, that they [elected candidates] were told that they were withdrawn.There was no reason given, according to them.”People close to former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya believe Nujoma was targeting Nehova because he reportedly supports Hamutenya’s presidential aspirations.They have complained that Nujoma was using dirty tricks against Hamutenya in an attempt to stop him from being elected as Swapo’s presidential candidate for the elections at the end of the year.Nehova said he was not involved in the Swapo elections that ousted mainly sitting councillors in March and April.Attempts to solicit comment from Swapo headquarters proved futile.