Shaningwa shuns Kavango East leaders’ suspensions

Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa says the decision to suspend two Swapo leaders from the Kavango East region can only be implemented if a quorum is met by the regional executive committee (REC).

Shaningwa said this in response to a letter addressed to her, dated 31 January 2025, by some members of the Swapo Kavango East REC. Eleven members of the REC are calling for the suspension of the regional coordinator, Ottilie Shinduvi and the mobilisation and information officer, Bonifatius Kudumo, from their positions.

In the letter to Shaningwa, the 11 aggrieved members claim that Shinduvi, as regional coordinator, failed to account to the REC, as required by the party’s constitution, regarding the regional financial reports for the years 2022 to 2024.

“All irregularities such as mismanagement of funds levelled against the regional coordinator were confirmed as true by an investigation committee in 2022 chaired by ambassador Simon Maruta,” they said.

The REC members also expressed concern over the resignation of a regional treasurer, which they claim was not communicated to them.
Other issues listed in the letter include the delayed payment of party agents for the 2019 and 2024 general elections, as well as what they describe as a lack of leadership and poor management of the 2024 election campaign by Shinduvi and her team.

As a result, the REC members recommended to Shaningwa that Shinduvi and Kudumo be suspended.
In her response, Shaningwa informed the aggrieved members that for the REC to make a legally binding decision, it must reach a quorum of at least 13 people, constituting a simple majority.

“The communique of suspension forwarded to my office only has a total of 11 signatures out of a total of 25 REC members. The decision to suspend the two can only be implemented if a quorum is reached,” Shaningwa said.