RDP youth threatening to revolt

Young people in the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) yesterday issued an unspecified threat against party leaders who orchestrated the suspension of three senior party members.

This follows an announcement that the party has suspended Kandy Nehova, Peter Naholo and Merjam Hamutenya from all its activities, pending an investigation into a host of alleged transgressions.

Nehova and Naholo – two of the eight RDP members in the National Assembly – have been recalled from the parliamentary duties with immediate effect.

They pair would be replaced by Rudolf Kamburona and Lorraine Weyers, who ranked 9th and 10th on the current RDP parliamentary list, respectively.

The trio was suspended and will be investigated for the alleged creation and encouragement of factions and divisions within the RDP as well as character assassination of fellow party members, the RDP said yesterday.

They are also accused of being behind the unauthorized disclosure of National Executive Committee (NEC) collective decisions, defiance of NEC collective decisions, bringing the RDP into disrepute by distorting decisions of the NEC and deliberate violation of the RDP political programme, code of conduct and the party constitution.

Namibian Sun is informed that the RDP’s Oshikoto Regional Secretary Ismael Shailemo and his Ohangwena counterpart Timo Shikongo would lead the inquiry.

But the suspensions, that are said to have their roots in the recent demonstrations the party held in search for the long-delayed court verdict in the case challenging the outcome of the 2009 general elections, have sparked bitter emotions among the youth.

“We call for the immediate reinstatement of the suspended comrades unless evidence is produced that the party constitution was strictly followed in arriving at that decision,” said Sam Hamunyela, RDP Youth League Deputy National Secretary.

“Nobody is above the constitution and people cannot abuse power in order to get positions. We are all equal before the RDP constitution.”

The young Turk added that “the constitution cannot only exist in black and white but must be practiced accordingly”.

Other sources within the RDP Youth League claimed that the suspensions are meant to place certain party members into pole positions for better postings in the party and its representation in government.

This suspicion is strengthened by talks that a group comprised of Libolly Haufiku, Shapwa Kaukungwa, Kamburona, Ellen Musialela, Magnus Nangombe and Phillemon Kanime has approached (Hidipo) Hamutenya’s family with a view to recall him from parliament.

They group allegedly claimed that Hamutenya is weak and frail and should therefore relinquish his parliamentary and party seats and be replaced with those that are fit.

“That group wants Jeremiah Nambinga to replace HH as party president,” a party source said.

“We have repeatedly told the President that he is surrounded by sneaky characters. He (Hamutenya) was reluctant to sign the suspensions but was coerced into doing it.”

Bribery and corruption

The mother of all chaos broke after Haufiku ordered the demonstrating youth to return to their regions – a decision that many said was arbitrarily taken.

Haufiku allegedly told demonstrators that the party has received ‘bombshell’ evidence confirming that the opposition has won the ongoing election court challenge.

“Libolly told demonstrators to go home, claiming that he is in possession of a leaked court document confirming that the opposition has won the election case and that there was no longer a need to continue the demonstration.”

The RDP allegedly paid some court officials who then leaked the pending verdict to the party.

“He (Haufiku) is responsible for the suspension of these comrades but why is the party not taking action against him for the bribery of court officials who leaked the documents to the party.”