‘Stomach politics’ hurting Swapo in Otjozondjupa – Shanyengana

The chairperson of the Swapo Party national leaders assigned to the Otjozondjupa Region, Mukwaita Shanyengana, is concerned with the ‘everyone wants to eat’ mentality that has - in his view - engulfed party leaders in the region.The veteran party leader’s concern comes at a time when insiders expressed concerns that the region’s infighting is threatening to boil over, with several accusations of fraud, backstabbing and rampant flouting of the constitution being the order of the day.Shanyengana told Namibian Sun yesterday that, since the start of this year, he spends most of his time trying to deal with the “unconstitutional” inclinations of the region’s cadres who want to “jump the gun while flouting the party’s constitution”.“People must follow the constitution and elections must be held in accordance with the party’s rules, however, there are those who think they can flout the rules,” he said.He added that the party’s secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa has also been to the region in a bid to resolve the conflict, but “people want to dwell in the past”.“She went there several times and people expect her to resolve it. There was a time when they see comrades coming who came to intervene but now there are documents such as the constitution that guides processes. Everyone wants to eat and jump the gun.“I explained to them on my many visits that there are processes and rules that must be followed,” he said.Stormy watersEarlier this week, Swapo Party’s coordinator in Otjozondjupa, Susan Hikopua, accused the region’s secretary for information and mobilisation, Clive Kavendjii, of flouting the party’s constitution by not attending to his duties on a full-time basis.The party constitution dictates that all regional information and mobilisation officers must vacate their positions if they are elected to a higher position within the party structure on a full-time basis or if they obtain full-time employment in government, parliament, judiciary, regional council, local authority or the private sector.According to Hikopua, Kavendjii completely disregards this provision and never comes to work, with exception of meetings he attends.It is also her opinion that Kavendjii’s alleged abuse of rules is fuelled by an arrangement with head office that he would not draw a salary in order for him not to be in office full-time.Shaningwa yesterday declined to comment on this supposed arrangement and dismissed it as a rumour.Kavendjii, however, confirmed to Namibian Sun that he has never drawn a ‘single penny’ from the party for his role as the region’s secretary for information and mobilisation, despite being entitled to it by virtue of occupying the position.jemima@namibiansun.com

‘Stomach politics’ hurting Swapo in Otjozondjupa – Shanyengana

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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‘Stomach politics’ hurting Swapo in Otjozondjupa – Shanyengana

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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