Swanu says ‘no’ to party funding

NAMIBIA’S oldest political party, Swanu of Namibia, says it will not accept Government funding for its political campaigns, even if voted into the new Parliament.

A high-level Swanu delegation visited The Namibian on Friday to outline the party’s principles shortly after the party registered for the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Swanu President Rihupisa Kandando and his delegation said the party will use its own resources.”We shall refuse State funding for our political activities because the nation is bleeding with poverty that requires funds to be channelled to such noble causes,” said Rukee Tjingaete.Swanu has submitted 44 names of candidates for the National Assembly elections while its leader Kandando is not standing for the presidency.Swanu also said that it did not support the calls for reparations against colonialism and imperialism.”We believe that Germany’s apology is an act of diplomacy that is a dividing line between the two sovereign states.They can keep their money to themselves because money will never undo the atrocity and permanent harm committed,” Kandando’s delegation said.Political parties have remained tight-lipped about State funding and the first Auditor General of Namibia Fanuel Tjingaete attempted to get an opinion from Government lawyers on how to compel them to account for the funds that they receive.The Office of the Auditor General cannot audit the books of political parties represented in the National Assembly.Government allocates millions of dollars in taxpayers’ money on an annual basis to political parties with seats in Parliament.Ideally, the Office of the Speaker in the National Assembly should approach the Office of the President with a request that the AG’s be instructed to do the audit.However, parties are reluctant to open up their books because of other sources of income they would not like their opponents to know about.They have received funds from the State since 1997.The lion’s share of State funding to political parties is allocated to the ruling Swapo party.In 1997, Government set aside N$8 million for the various parties, based on N$16,50 for each vote polled in the 1994 election.As a result, Swapo pocketed N$5,9 million, the DTA N$1,6 million, the UDF N$219 000, the DCN N$66 957 and MAG N$66 066.In the 1999 election, Swapo received 408 174 votes, the DTA 50 824 votes, the Congress of Democrats 53 289 votes, the United Democratic Front 15 635 votes and Monitor Action Group, 3 618 votes.Cabinet has laid down rules on how parties should use the money.The main purpose of the funding is to help parties run their legislative offices and for general political and organisational work.When the decision on party funding was taken in 1997, a parliamentary committee recommended that one of the conditions should be that political parties issue annual audited financial reports, to be published in the Government Gazette, and that they disclose all donations in excess of N$500.The view was also expressed that tax concessions on such donations would be an incentive to potential donors.The parliamentary report said it was necessary to help keep multi-party democracy alive.Swanu President Rihupisa Kandando and his delegation said the party will use its own resources.”We shall refuse State funding for our political activities because the nation is bleeding with poverty that requires funds to be channelled to such noble causes,” said Rukee Tjingaete.Swanu has submitted 44 names of candidates for the National Assembly elections while its leader Kandando is not standing for the presidency.Swanu also said that it did not support the calls for reparations against colonialism and imperialism.”We believe that Germany’s apology is an act of diplomacy that is a dividing line between the two sovereign states.They can keep their money to themselves because money will never undo the atrocity and permanent harm committed,” Kandando’s delegation said.Political parties have remained tight-lipped about State funding and the first Auditor General of Namibia Fanuel Tjingaete attempted to get an opinion from Government lawyers on how to compel them to account for the funds that they receive.The Office of the Auditor General cannot audit the books of political parties represented in the National Assembly.Government allocates millions of dollars in taxpayers’ money on an annual basis to political parties with seats in Parliament.Ideally, the Office of the Speaker in the National Assembly should approach the Office of the President with a request that the AG’s be instructed to do the audit.However, parties are reluctant to open up their books because of other sources of income they would not like their opponents to know about.They have received funds from the State since 1997.The lion’s share of State funding to political parties is allocated to the ruling Swapo party.In 1997, Government set aside N$8 million for the various parties, based on N$16,50 for each vote polled in the 1994 election.As a result, Swapo pocketed N$5,9 million, the DTA N$1,6 million, the UDF N$219 000, the DCN N$66 957 and MAG N$66 066.In the 1999 election, Swapo received 408 174 votes, the DTA 50 824 votes, the Congress of Democrats 53 289 votes, the United Democratic Front 15 635 votes and Monitor Action Group, 3 618 votes.Cabinet has laid down rules on how parties should use the money.The main purpose of the funding is to help parties run their legislative offices and for general political and organisational work.When the decision on party funding was taken in 1997, a parliamentary committee recommended that one of the conditions should be that political parties issue annual audited financial reports, to be published in the Government Gazette, and that they disclose all donations in excess of N$500.The view was also expressed that tax concessions on such donations would be an incentive to potential donors.The parliamentary report said it was necessary to help keep multi-party democracy alive.