Fired AR activists speak out
Money splits activists
Axed AR activist Paulus Kathanga says he was fired as the movement's elections boss because he sought accountability from Job Amupanda following claims of brown envelopes allegedly given to Amupanda.
The last two months have seen the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement face its toughest test to date - in the form of infighting - since its inception almost a decade ago, which has culminated in the axing of two of its most vocal activists.
The movement’s leadership, branded as the Interim National Activist Council, met in Walvis Bay over the weekend and resolved to relieve spokesperson Simon Amunime and elections head Paulus Kathanga from their positions within the movement, for allegedly sowing division and bringing the name of the AR into disrepute.
They are also accused of peddling lies.
The duo confirmed being shown the door. However, AR’s chief activist, Job Amupanda, said the pair were relieved of their duties, rather than suspended.
“We have not suspended anybody,” he said on Sunday, during a press conference at Walvis Bay.
Amupanda also used the opportunity to dismiss suggestions that the movement had been receiving money from Swapo members.
He added: “Apparently, this AR office is being paid by Swapo members, there is nothing like that.”
Exit door
Kathanga, however, claimed they were suspended after they allegedly questioned why Amupanda was receiving money.
Amunime and Kathanga alleged that Amupanda has accused them of allegedly “eating up” the movement’s money and that of the Fix Namibia SMS campaign.
“I can confidently confirm that we were shown the door from the AR movement last night at a meeting held in Walvis Bay. This was on the matter of the N$50 000 and brown envelope received by the activist in chief from individuals and business people as it relates to the movement,” Kathanga said on Sunday.
“The activist in chief admitted receiving those monies in the meeting. However, we were told to go expose those matters far from the movement and hence our so-called suspension,” he said.
Former AR spokesperson Simon Amunime said he had been shown the door as well when called for comment.
“I was shown the door at a meeting in Walvis Bay, not to represent the organisation in anyway. I abide by that and wish Dr Amupanda and the movement well,” Amunime said.
Amunime added that he was now focused on nation-building.
“I have joined the politics of maturity, with a focus on nation-building, unity and working together. The politics of insults and name calling will and shall be in the past,” said Amunime, who is well known for hurling insults at political opponents.
The movement’s leadership, branded as the Interim National Activist Council, met in Walvis Bay over the weekend and resolved to relieve spokesperson Simon Amunime and elections head Paulus Kathanga from their positions within the movement, for allegedly sowing division and bringing the name of the AR into disrepute.
They are also accused of peddling lies.
The duo confirmed being shown the door. However, AR’s chief activist, Job Amupanda, said the pair were relieved of their duties, rather than suspended.
“We have not suspended anybody,” he said on Sunday, during a press conference at Walvis Bay.
Amupanda also used the opportunity to dismiss suggestions that the movement had been receiving money from Swapo members.
He added: “Apparently, this AR office is being paid by Swapo members, there is nothing like that.”
Exit door
Kathanga, however, claimed they were suspended after they allegedly questioned why Amupanda was receiving money.
Amunime and Kathanga alleged that Amupanda has accused them of allegedly “eating up” the movement’s money and that of the Fix Namibia SMS campaign.
“I can confidently confirm that we were shown the door from the AR movement last night at a meeting held in Walvis Bay. This was on the matter of the N$50 000 and brown envelope received by the activist in chief from individuals and business people as it relates to the movement,” Kathanga said on Sunday.
“The activist in chief admitted receiving those monies in the meeting. However, we were told to go expose those matters far from the movement and hence our so-called suspension,” he said.
Former AR spokesperson Simon Amunime said he had been shown the door as well when called for comment.
“I was shown the door at a meeting in Walvis Bay, not to represent the organisation in anyway. I abide by that and wish Dr Amupanda and the movement well,” Amunime said.
Amunime added that he was now focused on nation-building.
“I have joined the politics of maturity, with a focus on nation-building, unity and working together. The politics of insults and name calling will and shall be in the past,” said Amunime, who is well known for hurling insults at political opponents.
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