By Kuvee Kangueehi
WINDHOEK
The ongoing conflict within the Congress of Democrats is heading for a legal showdown after the current leadership under Ben Ulenga took a decision not to resign and allow an interim committee to run the affairs of the party.
Ulenga has in fact instructed lawyers to advise the chairperson of the Audit Panel, Clement Daniels, of this position in writing.
At a press conference in the capital yesterday, Ulenga said the CoD leadership, which was elected at the extraordinary congress in Keetmanshoop earlier this year, would not permit the installation of an interim committee and would not form part it.
Ulenga said the party would not follow the recommendation by the Audit Panel to install an interim committee as the Audit Panel had failed to substantiate allegations made by the faction that resorts under Nora Schimming-Chase and Ignatius Shixwameni.
Ulenga said the opposing faction made specific serious allegations against the party leaders which amounted to clear accusations of political fraud, cheating and political dishonesty on the part of the party president and other elected leaders of the CoD.
Ulenga and his leadership last weekend analyzed the panel report but found nothing in the report that substantiated any of the accusations made by the other faction.
The CoD president said allegations that “the Ulenga Group bussed in schoolchildren from the four northern regions” to come and vote for Ulenga were not proven.
He noted that the Audit Panel was only able to establish two cases of fraud or irregularity but failed to explain why the election must be declared null and avoid.
Ulenga said his leadership saw no justification to abdicate leadership positions entrusted to it by members legitimately assembled at a congress.
He said it was the view of the CoD leadership that no one has the power to impose on the party and its members an unelected interim committee.
He claimed that installing an interim committee would be against the CoD constitution, would be of no force and not have any powers to run the affairs of the CoD as only duly elected leaders can do so.
Ulenga once again confirmed that the party has reported cases of theft and unauthorized usage of party cars against Nora Schimming-Chase and Kalla Gertze.
He said the cheque, which was taken by Schimming-Chase without authority, had not been deposited in the party account by Monday. He said the withholding of party funds by a member without authority is tantamount to financial sabotage. He revealed that the party is struggling to operate efficiently and is unable to pay its creditors. The CoD telephone account was cut yesterday.
The spokesperson of the other faction Ignatius Shixwameni said the position taken by Ulenga and his group was ” childish and amateurish”. He said the group could not go back on their word. “All CoD members must be shocked by the new position which shows a lot of political arrogance.”