… Dienda to act as SG
Windhoek
DTA of Namibia on Monday charged its suspended secretary general Vinsent Kanyetu of misconduct, misappropriating party funds and bringing the party’s name into disrepute.
Kanyetu, together with Bonifatius Kashera (Kavango West coordinator) and Reinhilde Kudumo (Kavango East coordinator) were allegedly involved in an unsanctioned land sale whereby they sold the party’s headquarters in Rundu without permission from the party’s leadership.
He is due to appear before the party’s three-men disciplinary committee, which comprises Moses Titus, Paul Tathaone and Ilme Schneider on July 2, 2015.
The charge sheet dated June 15, 2015, bears the signature of the party’s chairperson Jennifer van den Heever.
“On or about 15 August 2013, the accused member undertook to sell/sold the party’s Rundu office, situated at Erf 1225, Rundu Extension 3 to a certain River View Estate CC (CC/2012/0380) without the express and/or implied consent, of the management committee, as required in terms of s 16.3.2 of the constitution,” reads the charge sheet.
Kanyetu also stands accused of channelling some of the funds from the land sale towards the payment of party debts of its office in Gobabis.
The charge sheet further claims that: “The accused (Kanyetu) member has taken an amount of around N$10 000 from the proceeds of the sale for the undue advancement of his own personal affairs (without notifying or informing the management committee), this misappropriating resources of the party and thereby defrauding and/or stealing from the party).”
Kanyetu confirmed he received the charge sheet, but refused to comment.
He also said he is yet to decide whether to attend the disciplinary hearing or not.
Kudumo and Kashera both said they are yet to receive their charge sheets when approached by New Era yesterday, Meanwhile, party president McHenry Venaani announced at a press conference yesterday that one of the party’s members of parliament, Elma Dienda, would act as secretary general.
“The management committee has resolved that Hon. Elma Dienda will serve as the acting secretary general until such a time as a final ruling has been reached on the suspension of the current secretary general Mr Vinsent Kanyetu.
Questions have been asked surrounding Dienda’s quick rise up the party ranks, seeing that she only joined the party last year February. She was sworn in as a DTA parliamentarian in March this year and now she has been appointed as acting secretary general.
Venaani sees nothing wrong with this, saying: “In DTA all members are equal. The fact that she joined the party last year does not prevent her from being in the party’s leadership. This is not new to the party, people like Mishake Muyongo and Phillemon Moongo all joined the leadership soon after joining the party.”
Venaani also said that although the suspended trio will appear before the party’s disciplinary committee, the final decision lies with the party’s executive members.