Africa-Press – Namibia. GROOTFONTEIN businessman Simon ‘Small Boss’ Tuhafeni is one of six suspended Swapo members in the Grootfontein district executive committee, alongside Fastudu Malwa, Anna Uchurus, Susan Swartz, Innocent Madonsa, as well as the newly sworn-in mayor Talitha Garises.
The suspension is with immediate effect following a decision taken by party members on 17 February, confirmed district coordinator John Haimbodi at a media briefing at Grootfontein yesterday. He said the members were suspended for engaging in criminal activities in the district, aimed at destroying the party.
Garises is accused of supporting opposition parties, contrary to the aims, objectives and policies of Swapo. She is also alleged to have violated provisions relating to her official position in the party by allowing opposition forces to form a majority in the Grootfontein Municipal Council’s management committee without a clear mandate from Swapo.
The five other members were suspended for allegedly illegally participating in the executive committee meeting for the deployment of office-bearers, acting against the directive of secretary general Sophia Shaningwa. “They behaved in such a way to provoke and cause division or breakdown of the Swapo party unity and participated in organised factional activities that went beyond the recognised norms of free debate inside the Swapo party,” Haimbodi said.
The Grootfontein district is dismayed and embarrassed by the recent swearing-in of political office bearers in the town’s municipal council, which was taken over by opposition parties – the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), Haimbodi added.
This was caused by infighting of Swapo councillors. According to Haimbodi, Swapo fought tirelessly to win four seats in the 2019 regional and local authority elections.
“We shall never allow opposition forces to hijack our hard won elections, and the decision of the district executive committee of Grootfontein is sending a warning to all rank and file members within the district of Grootfontein that we shall never tolerate indiscipline in the district further on,” Haimbodi said.
He called on Shaningwa to denounce factionalism within the district which had led to the party’s removal from power in the council. Tuhafeni, Uchurus and Swartz were not prepared to comment when contacted by The Namibian, while Malwa referred inquiries to the Otjozondjupa regional councillor, Susana Hikopua. Hikopua said the suspension came as a surprise to her, after learning of it on social media.
“I will respond appropriately tomorrow,” she said.
In a letter sent through their lawyer Ndeli Ndaitwah on Monday, the six suspended members denied Haimbodi’s accusations, which they assert caused damage and harm to their dignity and reputations.
“Further, the false statements were made to lower our clients’ esteem in the eyes of Swapo members and the general public,” the letter reads. The suspended members demand that Haimbodi apologise by Wednesday [today], or be sued for defamation.
“You retract those false statements, innuendos and insinuations and you publish a written apology on the same WhatsApp groups you published the statement by no later than Wednesday, 23 February 2022.”
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