Swapo cracks the whip

THE Swapo Politburo has rejected the party’s Hardap regional leadership’s recommendation to suspend two key regional leaders.

In a letter seen by The Namibian, Swapo Party Deputy Secretary General John Pandeni has ordered Hardap Regional Co-ordinator Nico Mungenga to reinstate the suspended regional leaders – Regional Councillor for Hardap East Edward Wambo and Rehoboth East party district co-ordinator Willie Swartz. According to Pandeni, a team under the leadership of former Prime Minister Hage Geingob will soon visit the region to investigate squabbles among regional leaders.The two were suspended in a tit-for-tat move following an exposé in The Namibian about a tape-recorded clandestine meeting at which some regional leaders plotted to give them the boot.Among those who attended the meeting were Hardap Governor Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, regional councillors Theo Diergaardt and Barakias Namwandi, party regional co-ordinator Nico Mukenya, Gibeon district co-ordinator Hans Josef and the Swapo district co-ordinator for Rehoboth West, Dawid Richter, a party insider earlier told The Namibian.It was also the same group, except for Hanse-Himarwa, who attended the meeting that recommend the suspension of Wambo and Swartz.The group allegedly want Swartz suspended, claiming he is neglecting party activities and devoting most of his time to sport.In addition, they apparently claim that Wambo leaked Swapo information from a secret meeting held at the home of the party’s suspended Mariental district co-ordinator Francis Basson.Pandeni said the outcome of the investigation would not be made available to the regional leadership.He also directed Mungenga to ascertain that party structures were in place.Mungenga acknowledged receipt of the letter, saying the regional leadership was disappointed but respected the Politburo decision to have the two reinstated.However, he said the regional leadership remained firm on its recommendation that the two be suspended.”Definitely, the group of Wambo and Swartz is protected by some of the top cadres in the party.Despite this, we’ll never waver from our stance rooting out evils out to destroy the party,” he said.”Time will tell and those protecting the group of Wambo and Swartz will be exposed,” he warned.The Namibian was also reliably informed that party members accusing Mungenga of promoting factional infighting within the party have called on the Politburo to chastise Mungenga for violating the party constitution.It is alleged that Mungenga is spearheading a campaign to eliminate key regional leaders so that he can stand as sole candidate for the post of regional co-ordinator during the regional leadership election in July.Mungenga is also accused of inappropriate public behaviour and “abuse of party machinery”.Mungenga has denied the allegations.He charged that they were tactics by the group of Wambo and Swartz to distract attention from them, since they are the ones guilty of the allegations they levelled against him.”They [the group of Wambo and Swartz] are not worthy to be called Swapo members, they’re pretenders and fly-by-nights,” he claimed.”Come high or low, I will not retract my words saying they’re pretenders and fly-by-nights not worthy to be Swapo members,” he added.When approached by The Namibian, both Swartz and Wambo declined to comment.According to Pandeni, a team under the leadership of former Prime Minister Hage Geingob will soon visit the region to investigate squabbles among regional leaders.The two were suspended in a tit-for-tat move following an exposé in The Namibian about a tape-recorded clandestine meeting at which some regional leaders plotted to give them the boot.Among those who attended the meeting were Hardap Governor Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, regional councillors Theo Diergaardt and Barakias Namwandi, party regional co-ordinator Nico Mukenya, Gibeon district co-ordinator Hans Josef and the Swapo district co-ordinator for Rehoboth West, Dawid Richter, a party insider earlier told The Namibian. It was also the same group, except for Hanse-Himarwa, who attended the meeting that recommend the suspension of Wambo and Swartz.The group allegedly want Swartz suspended, claiming he is neglecting party activities and devoting most of his time to sport.In addition, they apparently claim that Wambo leaked Swapo information from a secret meeting held at the home of the party’s suspended Mariental district co-ordinator Francis Basson.Pandeni said the outcome of the investigation would not be made available to the regional leadership.He also directed Mungenga to ascertain that party structures were in place.Mungenga acknowledged receipt of the letter, saying the regional leadership was disappointed but respected the Politburo decision to have the two reinstated.However, he said the regional leadership remained firm on its recommendation that the two be suspended.”Definitely, the group of Wambo and Swartz is protected by some of the top cadres in the party.Despite this, we’ll never waver from our stance rooting out evils out to destroy the party,” he said.”Time will tell and those protecting the group of Wambo and Swartz will be exposed,” he warned.The Namibian was also reliably informed that party members accusing Mungenga of promoting factional infighting within the party have called on the Politburo to chastise Mungenga for violating the party constitution.It is alleged that Mungenga is spearheading a campaign to eliminate key regional leaders so that he can stand as sole candidate for the post of regional co-ordinator during the regional leadership election in July.Mungenga is also accused of inappropriate public behaviour and “abuse of party machinery”.Mungenga has denied the allegations.He charged that they were tactics by the group of Wambo and Swartz to distract attention from them, since they are the ones guilty of the allegations they levelled against him.”They [the group of Wambo and Swartz] are not worthy to be called Swapo members, they’re pretenders and fly-by-nights,” he claimed.”Come high or low, I will not retract my words saying they’re pretenders and fly-by-nights not worthy to be Swapo members,” he added.When approached by The Namibian, both Swartz and Wambo declined to comment.