WINDHOEK – DTA Member of Parliament and its former president, Katuutire Kaura, has apologized to the party for his unbecoming behaviour and said the time has come for bickering in the party to end.
Kaura pleaded that internal political squabbling should also cease so that the party can focus on the upcoming national elections.
At a meeting on Thursday the DTA’s executive committee found Kaura guilty on charges of insubordination, incitement, factionalism, promoting divisiveness and bringing the party into disrepute, said DTA National Chairwoman, Jennifer van den Heever, yesterday.
“The executive committee resolved to ask him to publicly apologize to the party within three working days. In the failure of the apology the party would resolve to recall Kaura from the National Assembly,” said Van den Heever. She said the executive committee had given the management committee the mandate to withdraw Kaura from the National Assembly if he continued to cause disunity in the struggling party.
“I hereby publicly apologise to the party’s national executive committee and party leadership throughout the country for my public utterances and behaviour that were uncalled for and humbly put members’ fears at rest that I commit myself to work in the greater interest of our party and society, “ stated a humbled Kaura.
Kaura said his apology was sincere and at the same time he wanted political bickering in the DTA to come an end.
The veteran politician further called on all DTA members to focus their attention on mobilizing the party towards the elections, adding: “My role in helping the party towards desirable results will be seen in due course.”
The DTA executive committee last month terminated Kaura’s membership and recalled him from the National Assembly. Surprisingly, after a few days the DTA announced the reversal of the decision to boot him from the party and recall him from the National Assembly. Kaura has since rejoined his fellow DTA parliamentarian Phillemon Moongo in the National Assembly.
A rift between Kaura and the party’s president, McHenry Venaani, emerged last year after Venaani defeated Kaura at the party congress to take over the party presidency.
The falling-out worsened when the party leadership accused Kaura of not reporting on how the party was doing in the National Assembly and that he disrespected the party leadership.
In response, Kaura told New Era at the time: “I do not report to any individual, I report to the 25 000 people who voted for the party.”
“The television, radio and newspapers are there, anyone who watches television or reads papers will know what I am all about, I do not need to run to people to report what is happening in parliament,” said the veteran politician.
By Mathias Haufiku