Ulenga clings to power Opposing camps drift further apart

TENSIONS between two rival factions of the CoD opposition party reached new heights yesterday, when one group made a U-turn and backtracked on a previous agreement that would have paved the way for a common way forward.

That embraced an interim committee, which was to be set up last night after an audit report, agreed on by both disputing CoD groups, nullified controversial party elections held at Keetmanshoop three months ago. “The CoD leadership sees no justification to abdicating leadership positions entrusted to it by members legitimately assembled in congress (at Keetmanshoop),” CoD President Ben Ulenga maintained yesterday.”No one has the power to impose on the party and its membership an unelected ‘interim committee’, which would fly in the face of the CoD constitution, would be of no force, nor would it have any powers to run the affairs of CoD, as only duly elected leaders can do this.”Ulenga and others were controversially elected at the Keetmanshoop congress, which resulted in both sides agreeing to an audit panel investigating proceedings.Ulenga said if any irregularities were detected, he and the others would step down.The audit team said they had found sufficient “fraud and cheating” to nullify the elections.Yesterday Ulenga told reporters that his group would “not permit” the installation of the agreed interim committee and would also not form part of it.He said a letter to this effect had been sent to the audit panel.With this statement Ulenga reneged on an agreement he signed barely a month ago, setting out the terms of reference for the audit panel that had to examine irregularities at the Keetmanshoop elections.A group of CoD members led by Ignatius Shixwameni walked out of the party congress, accusing Ulenga and his supporters of fraud and cheating.The audit panel was headed by Clement Daniels.They confirmed the allegations.Ulenga yesterday maintained that the report was “incomplete and did not substantiate” accusations levelled by the Shixwameni group.Therefore, he argued, his group no longer needed to abide by the signed agreement.”The party leadership analysed the audit report, but found nothing in it that substantiated any single one of these accusations,” Ulenga claimed.He dismissed the claims of irregularities made by the Shixwameni group as “lies and fabrications made publicly, aimed at discrediting CoD just because they were not prepared to accept the democratic outcome of a legitimate election”.”Why should I sacrifice the whole party for these lies?” Ulenga asked.He said his group would call a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting soon to discuss the way forward.Meanwhile, the two Members of Parliament of the Shixwameni faction who have reportedly been charged with alleged criminal offences are still waiting for the Police to confirm the charges.”I read about this in the Government newspaper,” CoD MP Nora Schimming-Chase told The Namibian when approached for comment.”I now wait for the charges, otherwise I cannot comment on this issue, because the only knowledge I have is through that news report,” she added.Yesterday Ulenga threw more light on the issue.A Government cheque for the funding for political parties, in this case for the CoD, was collected by Schimming-Chase on July 19, but not paid into the party’s account, he said.The party reported a case of theft to the Police.Apparently the cheque has just not been banked.CoD Chairman Tsudao Gurirab also reported to the Police that Kala Gertze of the Shixwameni faction had allegedly made unauthorised use of two party vehicles.Asked if it was true that he was looking after two CoD vehicles, Gertze told The Namibian he was given the mandate two years ago to do so and one car was still in his possession.”So far the Police have not approached me and I certainly have not made unauthorised use of the party vehicles,” he said.”Ask the other CoD group what happened to a CoD car that was taken to Ovitoto where it broke down, and if the use of that car and the trip were authorised,” Gertze said.He said it was “sad” that the phone lines at the CoD headquarters in Windhoek had been disconnected recently because of unpaid bills.The Ulenga faction of the party has been using the office since the Keetmanshoop party congress.The two rival factions of CoD agreed last weekend to have an interim leadership committee established by last night.Both factions had to submit the names of three candidates to serve on the interim committee to the audit panel.Panel chairman Daniels was to meet the three nominees of the Shixwameni group last night.The interim committee was to select a chairman and organise a new party congress within three months, for a new leadership to be elected.Had the interim committee become a reality, Ulenga would no longer be CoD president, unless he is re-elected in three months’ time.Approached for comment regarding the latest turn of events, Gertze said Ulenga’s move was a “typical example of agreeing to disagree.””We first have to discuss the new development tonight, I cannot comment on the issue now,” Gertze told The Namibian.”The CoD leadership sees no justification to abdicating leadership positions entrusted to it by members legitimately assembled in congress (at Keetmanshoop),” CoD President Ben Ulenga maintained yesterday.”No one has the power to impose on the party and its membership an unelected ‘interim committee’, which would fly in the face of the CoD constitution, would be of no force, nor would it have any powers to run the affairs of CoD, as only duly elected leaders can do this.”Ulenga and others were controversially elected at the Keetmanshoop congress, which resulted in both sides agreeing to an audit panel investigating proceedings.Ulenga said if any irregularities were detected, he and the others would step down.The audit team said they had found sufficient “fraud and cheating” to nullify the elections. Yesterday Ulenga told reporters that his group would “not permit” the installation of the agreed interim committee and would also not form part of it.He said a letter to this effect had been sent to the audit panel.With this statement Ulenga reneged on an agreement he signed barely a month ago, setting out the terms of reference for the audit panel that had to examine irregularities at the Keetmanshoop elections.A group of CoD members led by Ignatius Shixwameni walked out of the party congress, accusing Ulenga and his supporters of fraud and cheating.The audit panel was headed by Clement Daniels.They confirmed the allegations.Ulenga yesterday maintained that the report was “incomplete and did not substantiate” accusations levelled by the Shixwameni group.Therefore, he argued, his group no longer needed to abide by the signed agreement.”The party leadership analysed the audit report, but found nothing in it that substantiated any single one of these accusations,” Ulenga claimed.He dismissed the claims of irregularities made by the Shixwameni group as “lies and fabrications made publicly, aimed at discrediting CoD just because they were not prepared to accept the democratic outcome of a legitimate election”.”Why should I sacrifice the whole party for these lies?” Ulenga asked.He said his group would call a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting soon to discuss the way forward.Meanwhile, the two Members of Parliament of the Shixwameni faction who have reportedly been charged with alleged criminal offences are still waiting for the Police to confirm the charges.”I read about this in the Government newspaper,” CoD MP Nora Schimming-Chase told The Namibian when approached for comment.”I now wait for the charges, otherwise I cannot comment on this issue, because the only knowledge I have is through that news report,” she added.Yesterday Ulenga threw more light on the issue.A Government cheque for the funding for political parties, in this case for the CoD, was collected by Schimming-Chase on July 19, but not paid into the party’s account, he said.The party reported a case of theft to the Police.Apparently the cheque has just not been banked.CoD Chairman Tsudao Gurirab also reported to the Police that Kala Gertze of the Shixwameni faction had allegedly made unauthorised use of two party vehicles.Asked if it was true that he was looking after two CoD vehicles, Gertze told The Namibian he was given the mandate two years ago to do so and one car was still in his possession.”So far the Police have not approached me and I certainly have not made unauthorised use of the party vehicles,” he said.”Ask the other CoD group what happened to a CoD car that was taken to Ovitoto where it broke down, and if the use of that car and the trip were authorised,” Gertze said.He said it was “sad” that the phone lines at the CoD headquarters in Windhoek had been disconnected recently because of unpaid bills.The Ulenga faction of the party has been using the office since the Keetmanshoop party congress.The two rival factions of CoD agreed last weekend to have an interim leadership committee established by last night.Both factions had to submit the names of three candidates to serve on the interim committee to the audit panel.Panel chairman Daniels was to meet the three nominees of the Shixwameni group last night.The interim committee was to select a chairman and organise a new party congress within three months, for a new leadership to be elected.Had the interim committee become a reality, Ulenga would no longer be CoD president, unless he is re-elected in three months’ time.Approached for comment regarding the latest turn of events, Gertze said Ulenga’s move was a “typical example of agreeing to disagree.””We first have to discuss the new development tonight, I cannot comment on the issue now,” Gertze told The Namibian.