Africa-Press – Namibia. DEPUTY prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah yesterday came under fire when fellow parliamentarians asked her whether Swapo has received N$44 million from a horse mackerel quota allocated to the party in 2017.
Responding to Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani’s question in the National Assembly (NA) , Nandi-Ndaitwah said the party had no record of receiving N$44 million during former minister of fisheries and marine resources Bernhard Esau’s tenure.
Both Nandi-Ndaitwah and prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the party was not involved, at which Venaani quipped: “We will not be led by the corrupt. N$44 million, Saara? Oh! N$44 million of the country’s resources? Otamu li oimaliwa, vakwetu [you guys are eating money] . . . ata-ta-ta-ta.”
He then demanded that the party pay back the money. His questions came after the testimony by former National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) chief executive officer Mike Nghipunya during a bail hearing in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.
Nghipunya said a horse mackerel quota of 18 800 tonnes was allocated to Swapo for an election campaign of the party in 2017, and N$44 million was paid to the party through the accounts of two law firms, Sisa Namandje & Co, and De Klerk Horn Coetzee Incorporated, after the quota had been sold to Karee Investments 108.
Swapo had an elective congress in November 2017 where president Hage Geingob was elected as party leader. Venaani in the NA told Nandi-Ndaitwah it had been revealed that Swapo had received N$44 million in Fishrot funds – despite many denials by Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa and president Hage Geingob.
“I want to hear from you: Is it true that your party, the party you intend to lead in the next government if you so willing, has gotten N$44 million, 18 000 tonnes of fish resources of this country, into the pockets of the party to finance the campaign against your opponents? If it is true, what will your party do to bring back the N$44 million that is alleged?” he asked.
Nandi-Ndaitwah reiterated that the party did not receive any “so-called Fishrot money”. “So therefore, whoever has evidence, our books are there to be investigated for one to know. That is all I can say, because that is all I know . . ,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the next person to lead Swapo will be determined by Swapo members when they meet at the next congress in December 2022. NATIONAL INTEREST
Meanwhile, Venaani stressed that the issue of the N$44 million is of national interest, and that Nandi-Ndaitwah was speaking under oath, which means her responses would become court evidence.
He said if Nghipunya testified in court and it is later revealed that some Swapo ministers’ bank accounts received Fishrot funds, Nandi-Ndaitwah would be denying that this is true. He said records state that the money was indeed paid through lawyers’ trust accounts to finance a Swapo campaign.
“So, we want to put it to you that you can deny, you can run, but if that evidence is produced in court, Swapo will be taken to court by yours truly to account for that N$44 million you have taken,” Venaai said.
Meanwhile, the deputy prime minister said she cannot comment on accounts that are not under the control of Swapo, or on the activities of individual Swapo members.
“What I have said is what I know. To the best of my knowledge as the vice president of the Swapo party I am not aware of that money made available to Swapo accounts, and if you go to Swapo’s accounts and get it, that is news to me,” she said.
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