Swapo infighting continues in Hardap

FACTIONAL infighting within the Hardap Swapo leadership has moved up a gear after new office bearers were elected for the party’s Rehoboth Urban East District.

The long-awaited Rehoboth Urban East District Conference, which was called off in October because of an alleged stay-away action by the regional executive commitee, was held last week at Rehoboth. Willie Swartz retained his position as District Co-ordinator while Jonas Matheus was elected as District Information and Mobilisation Officer and Julia Elias as Treasurer.Swartz, Regional Councillor for Rehoboth East Constituency Edward Owambo and Martha Kandundu were nominated as delegates to next week’s Swapo congress.But, in a strongly worded letter to the Rehoboth Urban East District leadership, the regional executive committee immediately declared the elections “null and void”, The Namibian was informed.The party’s Hardap Regional Co-ordinator, Nico Mugenga, confimed the nullification of the elections yesterday, saying the district conference had failed to conform with the Swapo Party’s general rules.He said the regional executive committee had been denied its mandate to oversee the elections, thus the “elections are of no consequence”.Accusing the district leadership of poor discipline, Mugenga also took a swipe at Swapo’s top rank, claiming it had failed to call the Rehoboth Urban East district leadership to order despite numerous complaints the regional executive committee had lodged.”It is beyond my understanding why these people [Rehoboth Urban East District leadership] who face misconduct charges are not dealt with,” he said.He also accused the district leadership of “playing a game only known to them”, adding that Swartz surprisingly accepted the nomination as Swapo Congress delegate at the district conference after declining the nomination at the Hardap Swapo Regional Conference in October.When contacted for comment, Swartz yesterday hit back at Mugenga.He claimed the district conference was held in line with the party’s constitution following a directive from the Secretary General’s Office to convene it before November 16.”I’m advising Mugenga to start read the party’s constitution,” he said.”Mugenga must stop being a coward by using his position to settle personal scores,” Swartz said.He demanded that Mugenga explain to the Swapo leadership why a high number of former Swapo supporters at Mariental have joined the newly formed Rally for Democracy and Progress.According to Swartz, he withdrew as congress delegate to give preference to a female candidate.”I knew I was going to be elected by my district, therefore I pulled out to give a female candidate a chance,” he said.”The Hardap Governor, Katrina Hanse-Hirmarwa, also pulled out, why the fuss now,” he added.Willie Swartz retained his position as District Co-ordinator while Jonas Matheus was elected as District Information and Mobilisation Officer and Julia Elias as Treasurer.Swartz, Regional Councillor for Rehoboth East Constituency Edward Owambo and Martha Kandundu were nominated as delegates to next week’s Swapo congress.But, in a strongly worded letter to the Rehoboth Urban East District leadership, the regional executive committee immediately declared the elections “null and void”, The Namibian was informed.The party’s Hardap Regional Co-ordinator, Nico Mugenga, confimed the nullification of the elections yesterday, saying the district conference had failed to conform with the Swapo Party’s general rules.He said the regional executive committee had been denied its mandate to oversee the elections, thus the “elections are of no consequence”. Accusing the district leadership of poor discipline, Mugenga also took a swipe at Swapo’s top rank, claiming it had failed to call the Rehoboth Urban East district leadership to order despite numerous complaints the regional executive committee had lodged.”It is beyond my understanding why these people [Rehoboth Urban East District leadership] who face misconduct charges are not dealt with,” he said.He also accused the district leadership of “playing a game only known to them”, adding that Swartz surprisingly accepted the nomination as Swapo Congress delegate at the district conference after declining the nomination at the Hardap Swapo Regional Conference in October.When contacted for comment, Swartz yesterday hit back at Mugenga.He claimed the district conference was held in line with the party’s constitution following a directive from the Secretary General’s Office to convene it before November 16.”I’m advising Mugenga to start read the party’s constitution,” he said.”Mugenga must stop being a coward by using his position to settle personal scores,” Swartz said.He demanded that Mugenga explain to the Swapo leadership why a high number of former Swapo supporters at Mariental have joined the newly formed Rally for Democracy and Progress.According to Swartz, he withdrew as congress delegate to give preference to a female candidate.”I knew I was going to be elected by my district, therefore I pulled out to give a female candidate a chance,” he said.”The Hardap Governor, Katrina Hanse-Hirmarwa, also pulled out, why the fuss now,” he added.