Shixwameni, 21 others quit CoD

IGNATIUS Shixwameni, a prominent member of the official opposition party Congress of Democrats (CoD) has left the party together with 21 other members to form a new political movement.

They are joined by 11 Swapo members who have resigned from the ruling party. Shixwameni made the announcement in Windhoek yesterday after inviting reporters via SMS to a hastily convened press conference at his house.”I resign my membership of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) with immediate effect.Together with me, 21 members of CoD from regions around the country are also resigning with immediate effect,” he said in the presence of about 25 people who have renounced their membership of other parties.Among them are Linus Muchila, Faustinus Wakudumo, Toivo Ashipala and Agapitus Hausiku.Although Shixwameni told reporters about 45 people in total had resigned from various parties, including Nudo and the DTA, only 34 names were on the list, the only one from the DTA being that of Maria Nesilu.”Our resignation from our respective parties sets us free and allows us to conduct open political activities and will prepare us to consult openly with fellow Namibians with the view to establishing a new political organisation,” Shixwameni said.”The new movement will draw members and supporters from all the old and tired political parties and all Namibians who currently are not affiliated to any existing political group but who greatly feel the need for political renewal and inclusiveness.”We resigned our membership to be able to consult broadly and openly in the coming days and weeks and will report back to the nation at the appropriate time on any developments.”He was put “under pressure” by other politically minded citizens to mull the idea of a new party, Shixwameni added.A few weeks ago, the Government newspaper New Era reported that a new political party was in the making in the Kavango Region, to be called Namibia People’s Party (NPP).Herbert Shixwameni, brother of Ignatius, resigned from Swapo a few weeks ago.Ignatius Shixwameni was a Swapo member and a leading figure in the student movement Nanso in the three years before Independence.He became Secretary of the Swapo Youth League in 1992 and lost that position in 1997, when Paulus Kapia was elected.Shixwameni had a seat in Parliament from 1995 and was a Swapo Central Committee member.In 1997 he was appointed Deputy Information Minister.In October 1999 he resigned from Swapo and his ministerial post to join the newly founded CoD party and returned to Parliament for that party in 2000.In 2001, he was elected as CoD Secretary General.During the 2004 elections, CoD lost two seats and Shixwameni was one of the two MPs who did not return to the National Assembly.During the same year he did not stand for re-election as CoD Secretary General, but challenged CoD leader Ben Ulenga for the presidency, garnering 76 votes against Ulenga’s 202 votes.In May this year, CoD held what turned out to be a controverisal extraordinary congress at Keetmanshoop, where Shixwameni missed the presidency by only 14 votes against Ulenga.Accusing the congress of rigging the elections, Shixwameni staged a walkout with half the delegates and was fired as a CoD member by Ulenga with several other prominent CoD members like Kala Gertze, Elma Dienda, Nora-Schimming-Chase and Herbert Schultz.The ‘rebel’ faction took the matter to court, where the case will be heard on January 28.Asked what effect his resignation would have on the court case, Shixwameni said there were six other applicants, so the matter would proceed.”I wish them luck and I hope they win,” he said.Nora Schimming-Chase declined to comment on Shixwameni’s resignation yesterday.Ulenga could not be reached.Who’s gone List dated Dec 16 2007 of those who resigned from different political parties List produced by Ignatius Shixwameni Congress of Democrats (CoD) 1. Linus Muchila 2. Faustinus Wakudumo 3. Kutenda Pankratius 4. Hairwa B.5. Haingura Max 6. Himarwa Petrus 7. Sadwere Gideon 8. Lifalaza James L.9. Mahupe Beatrix 10. Kathryn Muyeu 11. Nanyemba Fransina 12. Mundinda Emilie 13. Toivo Ashipala 14. Paulus Thikongo 15. Maria Kamutali 16. Ignatius Shixwameni 17. Albertina Ribebe 18. Veronica Shindoma 19. Rejoy Howbes 20. Agapitus Hausiku 21. Portia Kondombolo 22. Sikukutu Mathias Swapo Party 1.Markus Sintungu 2.Alfons Muronga 3.Shintango G.S 4.Ndembere M.C 5.Jonas Sphia6. Sikongo Cornelia7. Haingura Maria8. Kativa Germanus9. Haita Josef10. Mbangu Shikumo11. Joseph ShiroriDTA of Namibia.1. Maria NesiluShixwameni made the announcement in Windhoek yesterday after inviting reporters via SMS to a hastily convened press conference at his house.”I resign my membership of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) with immediate effect.Together with me, 21 members of CoD from regions around the country are also resigning with immediate effect,” he said in the presence of about 25 people who have renounced their membership of other parties. Among them are Linus Muchila, Faustinus Wakudumo, Toivo Ashipala and Agapitus Hausiku.Although Shixwameni told reporters about 45 people in total had resigned from various parties, including Nudo and the DTA, only 34 names were on the list, the only one from the DTA being that of Maria Nesilu.”Our resignation from our respective parties sets us free and allows us to conduct open political activities and will prepare us to consult openly with fellow Namibians with the view to establishing a new political organisation,” Shixwameni said.”The new movement will draw members and supporters from all the old and tired political parties and all Namibians who currently are not affiliated to any existing political group but who greatly feel the need for political renewal and inclusiveness.”We resigned our membership to be able to consult broadly and openly in the coming days and weeks and will report back to the nation at the appropriate time on any developments.”He was put “under pressure” by other politically minded citizens to mull the idea of a new party, Shixwameni added.A few weeks ago, the Government newspaper New Era reported that a new political party was in the making in the Kavango Region, to be called Namibia People’s Party (NPP).Herbert Shixwameni, brother of Ignatius, resigned from Swapo a few weeks ago.Ignatius Shixwameni was a Swapo member and a leading figure in the student movement Nanso in the three years before Independence.He became Secretary of the Swapo Youth League in 1992 and lost that position in 1997, when Paulus Kapia was elected.Shixwameni had a seat in Parliament from 1995 and was a Swapo Central Committee member.In 1997 he was appointed Deputy Information Minister.In October 1999 he resigned from Swapo and his ministerial post to join the newly founded CoD party and returned to Parliament for that party in 2000.In 2001, he was elected as CoD Secretary General.During the 2004 elections, CoD lost two seats and Shixwameni was one of the two MPs who did not return to the National Assembly.During the same year he did not stand for re-election as CoD Secretary General, but challenged CoD leader Ben Ulenga for the presidency, garnering 76 votes against Ulenga’s 202 votes.In May this year, CoD held what turned out to be a controverisal extraordinary congress at Keetmanshoop, where Shixwameni missed the presidency by only 14 votes against Ulenga.Accusing the congress of rigging the elections, Shixwameni staged a walkout with half the delegates and was fired as a CoD member by Ulenga with several other prominent CoD members like Kala Gertze, Elma Dienda, Nora-Schimming-Chase and Herbert Schultz.The ‘rebel’ faction took the matter to court, where the case will be heard on January 28.Asked what effect his resignation would have on the court case, Shixwameni said there were six other applicants, so the matter would proceed.”I wish them luck and I hope they win,” he said.Nora Schimming-Chase declined to comment on Shixwameni’s resignation yesterday.Ulenga could not be reached.Who’s gone List dated Dec 16 2007 of those who resigned from different political parties List produced by Ignatius Shixwameni Congress of Democrat
s (CoD) 1. Linus Muchila 2. Faustinus Wakudumo 3. Kutenda Pankratius 4. Hairwa B.5. Haingura Max 6. Himarwa Petrus 7. Sadwere Gideon 8. Lifalaza James L.9. Mahupe Beatrix 10. Kathryn Muyeu 11. Nanyemba Fransina 12. Mundinda Emilie 13. Toivo Ashipala 14. Paulus Thikongo 15. Maria Kamutali 16. Ignatius Shixwameni 17. Albertina Ribebe 18. Veronica Shindoma 19. Rejoy Howbes 20. Agapitus Hausiku 21. Portia Kondombolo 22. Sikukutu Mathias Swapo Party 1.Markus Sintungu 2.Alfons Muronga 3.Shintango G.S 4.Ndembere M.C 5.Jonas Sphia 6. Sikongo Cornelia 7. Haingura Maria 8. Kativa Germanus 9. Haita Josef 10. Mbangu Shikumo 11. Joseph Shirori DTA of Namibia.1. Maria Nesilu