APP president ignores suspension
Shuumbwa linked to new party
The interim leader said a decision made to suspend him was 'illegal', and based on rumours.
All People’s Party (APP) acting president Nangolo Shuumbwa has disregarded a suspension letter he received two weeks ago, arguing that it was a decision taken by “a group of opportunists” who have been planning to oust him for years.
At a central coordinating committee meeting on 18 May, the party decided to suspend Shuumbwa following allegations that he is linked to a new political formation currently seeking to be registered with the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).
For months, Shuumbwa, a well-established businessman in the northern parts of the country, has been linked to the Action for Democracy Movement (ADM).
ADM is currently led by Vinsent Kanyetu, who is the former secretary-general of APP and worked closely with Shuumbwa in the past.
Namibian Sun is reliably informed that during the committee meeting - which Shuumbwa did not attend - an allegation was made that he excused himself in order to attend an ADM gathering.“Shuumbwa had told us that he cannot make it to the meeting because he had an engagement at the Ondonga Traditional Authority, but one of the members in the meeting told us that it is not true, but that he had a meeting with his new political party,” APP acting secretary-general Marius Goraseb said.
Not suspended
When contacted for comment yesterday, Shuumbwa was adamant that he remains the interim leader of APP.
He said his suspension has nothing to do with the rumours about him being linked to ADM, but is part of a plan to oust him. “They have been planning to get rid of me for a long time now. They make decisions without consulting me, they don’t pick up my calls when I call them. They just saw an opportunity when I was not at the meeting and made [an] illegal decision,” he said.
“I am the chairperson of the national buro and the committee. [The meeting was] convened without my blessing, hence any decision taken there was illegal, null and void.”
Shuumbwa took over the leadership of the party in 2021 following the death of Ignatius Shixwameni.
In 2019, ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections, he gave the party a loan of over N$330 000 to campaign for the elections, during which APP landed two seats in parliament.
The party has thus far paid back N$90 000, it said. Shuumbwa, however, claimed that the APP has yet to reimburse him.
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At a central coordinating committee meeting on 18 May, the party decided to suspend Shuumbwa following allegations that he is linked to a new political formation currently seeking to be registered with the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).
For months, Shuumbwa, a well-established businessman in the northern parts of the country, has been linked to the Action for Democracy Movement (ADM).
ADM is currently led by Vinsent Kanyetu, who is the former secretary-general of APP and worked closely with Shuumbwa in the past.
Namibian Sun is reliably informed that during the committee meeting - which Shuumbwa did not attend - an allegation was made that he excused himself in order to attend an ADM gathering.“Shuumbwa had told us that he cannot make it to the meeting because he had an engagement at the Ondonga Traditional Authority, but one of the members in the meeting told us that it is not true, but that he had a meeting with his new political party,” APP acting secretary-general Marius Goraseb said.
Not suspended
When contacted for comment yesterday, Shuumbwa was adamant that he remains the interim leader of APP.
He said his suspension has nothing to do with the rumours about him being linked to ADM, but is part of a plan to oust him. “They have been planning to get rid of me for a long time now. They make decisions without consulting me, they don’t pick up my calls when I call them. They just saw an opportunity when I was not at the meeting and made [an] illegal decision,” he said.
“I am the chairperson of the national buro and the committee. [The meeting was] convened without my blessing, hence any decision taken there was illegal, null and void.”
Shuumbwa took over the leadership of the party in 2021 following the death of Ignatius Shixwameni.
In 2019, ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections, he gave the party a loan of over N$330 000 to campaign for the elections, during which APP landed two seats in parliament.
The party has thus far paid back N$90 000, it said. Shuumbwa, however, claimed that the APP has yet to reimburse him.
[email protected]
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