Kalahari constituency councillor Ignatius Kariseb is in hot water after he allegedly refused to pay for campaign materials worth N$7 000.
A Windhoek business owner, Meite Nguvauva, claims she is seeking N$7 000 from Kariseb for the 145 masks she provided him as campaign material before the 2020 local and regional authority elections, which resulted in Kariseb’s reelection as the constituency councillor.
Kariseb is a Swapo heavyweight in Omaheke and is the current chairperson of the Omaheke regional council.
“I am a single mother of five – hustling my way around just to be robbed by those tasked to protect us. I provided campaign materials to many Swapo leaders during the 2020 elections, but almost all of them have paid, apart from Kariseb,” she said.
“Every time I call him, it is either he is waiting for money from GIPF or from somewhere. It has been two years now,” she added.
Contacted for comment, Kariseb this week acknowledged having received the items, he claimed they were too small and therefore they were not useful and that Nguvauva might pick them up from his office if she so desired.
He accused Nguvauva of having ulterior motives, which is to tarnish his “good reputation” that he has maintained over the years.
“Why is she bringing up this now? Her actions are very clear. She wants to tarnish my name because of the upcoming congress,” said Kariseb who is vying for a spot on the Swapo central committee at the elective congress later this year.
“You are busy contesting and running to be a part of the Swapo central committee for 2022. Your manifesto states that you are all for ‘youth and women empowerment’, however, your actions state otherwise,” read a text sent to Kariseb by Nguvauva this week.
“Have you forgotten the single mother of five that you have scammed out of her N$7 000? Or does your empowerment for our women only apply when it’s for beautiful manifestos to further your agenda?
“Pay up the money if you truly believe in your own campaign. It has been over three years of not taking up ownership and responsibility, which shows us the public, what kind of leader you most certainly will be, once elected,” the text reads.
Nguvauva said, “at one time, the councillor promised to pay me with constituency funds to which I
refused.”
No payment… Ignatius Kariseb is accused of not paying for campaign material since 2020. Photo: Nampa