Politburo clears Kandumbu for Parliament

The Swapo Politburo has decided to allow corruption convict Marina Kandumbu to take up her seat in the National Assembly. This was announced as part of the outcome of a politburo meeting that was held on Monday evening. In a statement, Swapo Secretary-General said they have fully deliberated on the issue, and that after a lengthy discussion it was resolved that Kandumbu be allowed to take up her seat in the National Assembly. Kandumbu is number 77 on Swapo’s National Assembly list. A local daily recently reported that Swapo vice-president Hage Geingob had ordered Mbumba to facilitate that Kandumbu be sworn-in to the National Assembly. According to New Era, Geingob had written to Mbumba saying Kandumbu’s exclusion from the National Assembly would not bode well for the party’s policy of inclusivity. Kandumbu was accused of contravening the Anti-Corruption Act, after she rented out a government house to the Angolan Consulate in Rundu. She rented the house out from May 2005 until April 2010, and was paid N$3 500 per month. Kandumbu appeared before Magistrate Helen Olaiya, who found her guilty on November 11 last year and sentenced her on the same day. Olaiya fined Kandumbu N$100 000 or five years in prison, of which N$90 000 or four years was suspended on condition that she repays N$87 887, starting on November 27 last year. AR trio charges Meanwhile, Mbumba also announced that the party’s disciplinary committee is still finalising the disciplinary proceedings against suspended Swapo Youth League (SPYL) spokesperson Job Amupanda and two other youth leaders George Kambala and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma. The three were suspended in November last year by the party’s top four for their involvement in the formation of the Affirmative Repositioning movement and their land activities. “The Politburo felt that since the disciplinary committee was still seized with that process, it should wait until the disciplinary committee completes its assigned task,” Mbumba said in a statement. WINDHOEK STAFF REPORTER