Swapo Okahandja rocked by corruption claims and ‘secret’ leadership picks

Swapo leaders at Okahandja are facing corruption allegations from within their own ranks.

Members are accusing the district’s leaders of financial mismanagement, a lack of accountability, and irregular leadership appointments.

Tensions escalated on Friday evening when members locked the party’s district office after Utoni Nujoma branch coordinator Erastus Ekandjo failed to attend a meeting meant to address disputes in the Ongulumbashe and Fidel Castro sections.

A petition drafted by the Okahandja district leadership, various branches, sections and wings was sent to Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa on 30 July.

It alleges that an election committee was unconstitutionally appointed by a flawed district executive.

The petition names Hartlief Nangolo as an irregularly endorsed leader.

“To our dismay, images were shared by Martha Mwandingi-Simeon herself in a WhatsApp group, captioned ‘done and dusted,’ celebrating the endorsement of Hartlief Nangolo at Otjiwarongo.

Why was this endorsement done outside the district? And why was it celebrated in secrecy? We demand clarity and transparency on this matter,” the petition reads. In the petition, Nangolo and Mwandingi-Simeon are accused of misusing party funds.

Nangolo previously served as district treasurer.

He is accused of failing to account for finances and making unauthorised withdrawals, even after leaving the office.

A report by the district committee has led to a police case being opened against Nangolo and Mwandingi-Simeon at Okahandja Police Station.

The petition also calls for the suspension of the two pending investigations.

Ekandjo yesterday declined to comment on the matter.

“If it needs to be commented on you should contact the head office.

This is an internal matter. It can only be discussed as such . . ,” he said.
Nangolo referred The Namibian to the regional coordinator.

Mwandingi-Simeon yesterday said: “Rules and procedures have to be followed, and I am not answerable to the media. Swapo has channels we use to report, so I don’t report to the media.”

A long-serving district member last week told The Namibian that financial reports, which are usually presented at executive meetings and conferences, have not been presented in the past two years.

He blames the current situation on leadership infighting.

MORE DEMANDS

The aggrieved members further request that regional coordinator Imms Namaseb produce an audited financial report.

They say no action has been taken despite repeated requests for this.

Thirteen members of the district executive wrote to Namaseb on 9 February, demanding a meeting.

The meeting addressed the lack of financial reports, the handling of campaign funds, and allegations of stolen money.

In the petition the members cited evidence from the district treasurer that N$140 000 was withdrawn without the committee’s approval.
Nangolo was suspected of being involved.

‘ILLEGAL APPOINTMENTS’

Party member ‘HH Vatilifa’ last week told The Namibian that a member was “illegally brought in” to the leadership structure without being elected by the branch executive.

“. . . while the candidates who were participating in the election before were not invited, so it was secretly done,” he said.

Another member, Shingila Tobias, said some of the members of the district are unhappy with the coordinator for selecting people to be returning officers while they are not even recognised by the district executive.

“They are doing things outside the constitution,” he said.

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