The rise and fall of Shuumbwa at APP
Businessman jumps ship to new party
Shuumbwa, who announced his new political home last week, was placed on suspension and faced disciplinary action at APP.
After allegedly spending over N$300 000 on a 2019 election campaign which secured the All People’s Party (APP) two seats in parliament, northern businessman Erastus Shuumbwa’s journey at the helm of the political formation has been a bumpy one, filled with controversy and alleged victimisation.
Shuumba last week jumped ship amid a disciplinary hearing and joined a newly formed political party.
Following the death of APP founding president Ignatius Shixwameni in November 2021, Shuumbwa - who was elected the party’s vice-president at the 2019 elective congress - automatically ascended to the interim president position and was tasked to lead the party.
However, members reportedly never wanted him at the helm, and made it clear from the get-go.
For months, Shuumbwa has been rumoured to have been part of a new formation - Action for Democracy Movement (ADM) - despite still being a member of APP, and he confirmed it last week when he publicly announced his affiliation to ADM. He will campaign and vote for the new party during the upcoming elections, he said.
‘They wanted me gone’
At a press conference in Ondangwa last Thursday, Shuumbwa refused to reveal whether he resigned or was expelled from the APP. “They wanted me gone and now I made it easy for them,” he said.
Interestingly, Shuumbwa was placed on suspension a few months ago and faced disciplinary action at APP.
He, however, opted not to show up to the hearing last month, which APP secretary-general Marius Goraseb said continued in his absence. The party plans to host a press conference this week to shed light on the outcome of the disciplinary hearing.
Questioned about the hearing, Shuumbwa said he couldn’t care less about its outcome. “I have nothing to do with APP; I am an ADM member now,” he said.
‘We won’t miss him’
Namibian Sun has on several occasions reported on the strife at APP, with Shuumbwa accusing the party of tribalism and excluding him in key decisions.
While being a signatory to the party’s bank accounts, he had no knowledge how party funds were utilised, he said.
When probed about Shuumbwa’s leadership style and allegations of him being victimised, Goraseb implied that Shuumbwa was comfortable being in the shadow of the late Shixwameni and when the circumstances dictated that he should lead the party, his leadership skills were put to the test.
Goraseb did not shy away from saying that Shuumbwa could not chair meetings. “There are people who accept positions when they don’t have the capabilities. Like you said, meetings were being conducted without him. The man was responsible [for calling and chairing meetings], but he could not [do so],” Goraseb said.
“Now tell me what kind of leadership skills he has if he can join another political party without even resigning? We won’t miss Shuumbwa because he did not bring any policy change to the party,” the secretary-general said.
“We knew that he was part of ADM but we could not pin it on him and there was no evidence because he was good at covering his tracks.”
Paper trail
With regards to the loan Shuumbwa gave to the party ahead of the 2019 elections, Goraseb said that APP only paid him N$90 000 from the alleged N$330 000 because that amount had a paper trail, alluding that the rest of the money could not be traced.
Shuumbwa has been serving as one of APP’s members of parliament since March 2020.
He has yet to be replaced as a member of parliament as the party is waiting on the National Assembly to conclude its due processes, which will then see Linus Muchila taking his seat.
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Shuumba last week jumped ship amid a disciplinary hearing and joined a newly formed political party.
Following the death of APP founding president Ignatius Shixwameni in November 2021, Shuumbwa - who was elected the party’s vice-president at the 2019 elective congress - automatically ascended to the interim president position and was tasked to lead the party.
However, members reportedly never wanted him at the helm, and made it clear from the get-go.
For months, Shuumbwa has been rumoured to have been part of a new formation - Action for Democracy Movement (ADM) - despite still being a member of APP, and he confirmed it last week when he publicly announced his affiliation to ADM. He will campaign and vote for the new party during the upcoming elections, he said.
‘They wanted me gone’
At a press conference in Ondangwa last Thursday, Shuumbwa refused to reveal whether he resigned or was expelled from the APP. “They wanted me gone and now I made it easy for them,” he said.
Interestingly, Shuumbwa was placed on suspension a few months ago and faced disciplinary action at APP.
He, however, opted not to show up to the hearing last month, which APP secretary-general Marius Goraseb said continued in his absence. The party plans to host a press conference this week to shed light on the outcome of the disciplinary hearing.
Questioned about the hearing, Shuumbwa said he couldn’t care less about its outcome. “I have nothing to do with APP; I am an ADM member now,” he said.
‘We won’t miss him’
Namibian Sun has on several occasions reported on the strife at APP, with Shuumbwa accusing the party of tribalism and excluding him in key decisions.
While being a signatory to the party’s bank accounts, he had no knowledge how party funds were utilised, he said.
When probed about Shuumbwa’s leadership style and allegations of him being victimised, Goraseb implied that Shuumbwa was comfortable being in the shadow of the late Shixwameni and when the circumstances dictated that he should lead the party, his leadership skills were put to the test.
Goraseb did not shy away from saying that Shuumbwa could not chair meetings. “There are people who accept positions when they don’t have the capabilities. Like you said, meetings were being conducted without him. The man was responsible [for calling and chairing meetings], but he could not [do so],” Goraseb said.
“Now tell me what kind of leadership skills he has if he can join another political party without even resigning? We won’t miss Shuumbwa because he did not bring any policy change to the party,” the secretary-general said.
“We knew that he was part of ADM but we could not pin it on him and there was no evidence because he was good at covering his tracks.”
Paper trail
With regards to the loan Shuumbwa gave to the party ahead of the 2019 elections, Goraseb said that APP only paid him N$90 000 from the alleged N$330 000 because that amount had a paper trail, alluding that the rest of the money could not be traced.
Shuumbwa has been serving as one of APP’s members of parliament since March 2020.
He has yet to be replaced as a member of parliament as the party is waiting on the National Assembly to conclude its due processes, which will then see Linus Muchila taking his seat.
[email protected]
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