DTA of Namibia’s suspended regional coordinators for Kavango West Boniface Kashera and Kavango East’s Reinhilde Kudumo say the party’s supporters in the two regions are threatening to boycott the upcoming regional council and local authority elections if the suspended secretary general Vinsent Kanyetu and the other officials are not reinstated.
Both regions are currently headed by acting regional coordinators after Kudumo, Kanyetu and Kashera were suspended for allegedly selling the party’s plot in Rundu on which the party’s headquarters is built.
The two suspended coordinators confirmed the threats to New Era yesterday in separate interviews.
Kanyetu, who is currently in Rundu, refused to comment on the matter.
DTA of Namibia president McHenry Venaani will today travel to Rundu to attend to the problems plaguing the party in the two regions where he is expected to meet some party officials to deliberate on the way forward.
“DTA members and supporters in my region are saying if we are not placed back in our positions, then participating in the regional council elections will be useless for the party. This is not my decision, but that of the supporters,” said Kudumo.
When asked if she would accept her role as coordinator for Kavango East if given the chance, she said, “I chose to be in DTA, I have no problem continuing to work for the party because no one forced me to join the party.
“The decision not to take part in the regional council elections came from the supporters, not from me, Kudumo or Kanyetu,” said Kashera.
“When we held a consultation meeting last month, the members and supporters felt that Kavango East and West regions should not partake in the elections because we are suspended and they feel that only one tribe is benefiting in the party,” he said.
Kashera claims the two regions were only given N$7 500 for campaign purposes during last year’s general elections.
“The limited funds we got for the campaign is the reason why we decided to use the money from the sale of the plot to fund the campaign in the region,” he said.
Unlike Kudumo, Kashera said he would not continue pursuing party activities even if his suspension is lifted.
“I would rather stay away and do my own things instead of working for a party that only gives me cell phone allowance after all the years I worked for this party,” he said.
Rundu Town Council records to which New Era is privy indicate that DTA signed a deed of sale to acquire the immovable property measuring 1 379 square metres in 2013 for N$82 740. The payment is still outstanding however.
The buyer also deposited N$180 000 into the party’s regional account.
Venaani said the party would fight to recover its plot, which he says was sold “illegally”.