Swapo targets Hendjala

SWAPO has suspended former National Council member Erasmus Hendjala as a party member because of alleged links to the newly formed Rally for Democracy and Progress.

Party insiders confirmed yesterday that Hendjala, better known as ‘Kaptein’, was withdrawn from the list of people who will represent the Khomas Region at next week’s Swapo congress. Hendjala was left with egg on his face when he turned up at the meeting of Khomas delegates, held on Sunday in Windhoek, and was informed by the party’s regional co-ordinator, Michael Mwinga, that he will be withdrawn from the group heading for the congress.Mwinga allegedly informed Hendjala that his district executive committee had called for his withdrawal, claiming he was a supporter of former Swapo member Hidipo Hamutenya.The district executive submitted a three-page motivation to the Khomas regional executive, The Namibian understands.Hendjala confirmed yesterday that Mwinga had informed him about his withdrawal but said he was still awaiting written confirmation.The former National Council member’s future in Swapo became clouded during the run-up to the 2004 Swapo extraordinary congress which elected Hifikepunye Pohamba as the presidential candidate after an internal campaign which involved backstabbing, intimidation and smear campaigns against supporters of Hamutenya and Pohamba.As a result, Hendjala did not make it back into the National Council, where he had been a member since 1993 – representing the Hakahana Constituency, which was split into two in 2002.Hendjala is a former journalist who edited the widely-read Catholic newsletter Omukuni before Independence.He also wrote a weekly column in Oshiwambo for The Namibian.After Independence he briefly worked for New Era.Hendjala was one of the proponents of a third term for former President Sam Nujoma and argued that “every patriotic Namibian” was aware that the Constitution could be amended and needed to support the move, as it had been written by Namibians themselves and they had the fundamental right to amend it as they wished.Hendjala was left with egg on his face when he turned up at the meeting of Khomas delegates, held on Sunday in Windhoek, and was informed by the party’s regional co-ordinator, Michael Mwinga, that he will be withdrawn from the group heading for the congress.Mwinga allegedly informed Hendjala that his district executive committee had called for his withdrawal, claiming he was a supporter of former Swapo member Hidipo Hamutenya.The district executive submitted a three-page motivation to the Khomas regional executive, The Namibian understands.Hendjala confirmed yesterday that Mwinga had informed him about his withdrawal but said he was still awaiting written confirmation.The former National Council member’s future in Swapo became clouded during the run-up to the 2004 Swapo extraordinary congress which elected Hifikepunye Pohamba as the presidential candidate after an internal campaign which involved backstabbing, intimidation and smear campaigns against supporters of Hamutenya and Pohamba.As a result, Hendjala did not make it back into the National Council, where he had been a member since 1993 – representing the Hakahana Constituency, which was split into two in 2002.Hendjala is a former journalist who edited the widely-read Catholic newsletter Omukuni before Independence.He also wrote a weekly column in Oshiwambo for The Namibian.After Independence he briefly worked for New Era. Hendjala was one of the proponents of a third term for former President Sam Nujoma and argued that “every patriotic Namibian” was aware that the Constitution could be amended and needed to support the move, as it had been written by Namibians themselves and they had the fundamental right to amend it as they wished.