Alex Kamwi awaits Pohamba’s response

The recently elected president of the Caprivi African National Union (Canu) is still waiting for a response from State House to his request for an audience with President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

Alex Kamwi, who was recently suspended by the Namibia National Liberation Veterans Association (NNLVA), wants to meet the Namibian President to discuss an alleged merger between Swapo and Canu entered into 48 years ago.

Kamwi had formally requested a meeting with Pohamba to discuss the disputed merger and to push for Canu members to also be proportionally appointed as ministers, diplomats and permanent secretaries as their Swapo counterparts.

He also wants Pohamba to appoint a Canu member as prime minister, since the country’s president is from Swapo.

“We haven’t had any response from him (Pohamba) yet but we are confident that he will grant us an opportunity within the few coming days,” an optimistic Kamwi – recently elected as Canu president – said.

Kamwi is adamant that Swapo and Canu merged in 1964 with the understanding that the parties would wage the liberation struggle together and that their politicians would share positions in Government.
But Swapo Secretary-General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana yesterday laughed off Kamwi’s suggestions that Swapo is currently in a marriage with Canu.

“I know nothing about it,” Iivula-Ithana said.

Kamwi is a card-carrying member of Swapo, a party whose constitution prohibits members from obtaining dual membership.

Asked if Swapo is looking into this matter, Iivula-Ithana said: “We are only reading in the press about the alleged dual membership but nothing has reached our offices yet.”

Despite its supposed revival, Canu remains largely invisible and is not registered with the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).

“We don’t have that party in our books,” said Director of Elections Moses Ndjarakana yesterday.
Swapo has always dismissed suggestions that it is in a merger with Canu or any other political party.
The governing party insists that contrary to the merger claims, Canu was disbanded and its leader Brendan Simbwaye became vice-president of Swapo.

Kamwi has requested a meeting with Pohamba for early August, but the Head of State’s virtual silence could mean the ruling party is not willing to discuss the matter that many deem highly sensitive.