Other parties are hard at work with their election campaigns and mobilisation of members, but Swanu is preparing for a court date later this month, where two factions will again square off in the ongoing battle for the party’s heart and soul.
Amidst the infighting and widening disunity, Swanu president Evilastus Kaaronda remains unfazed. He said just as with past squabbles, the party will cleanse itself, and prevail much stronger and united.
The South West Africa National Union (Swanu), which is the country’s oldest political party established in 1959, is grappling with a protracted leadership dispute.
At the centre of the dispute are two warring factions, one led by Charles Katjivirue, who claims to be the party president, and another led by Kaaronda, who also claims to be president, and appears to be enjoying the majority of the party members’ support.
Speaking to this publication yesterday, Kaaronda weighed in on the ongoing battles, and admitted that it is self-destructive for the party to be going through such squabbles in an important election year, which could potentially determine the party’s ultimate survival.
“It’s true, and I must admit that the current disunity in the party is not helpful to any of us. We are now preparing for a court date this month, where we expect the court to eventually pronounce itself on who the legitimate leadership of Swanu is. But in all honesty, I’m not so worried about the other guys [Katjivirue faction] because it is just a group of people claiming to be party leaders. The party leadership and the majority of members know and recognise who the real party leaders are because we were elected through a legitimate congress,” said the veteran trade unionist.
When all is said and done, Kaaronda remains adamant that the party’s legal machinery, functionaries and its constitution will guide the cleansing process, which will eventually see a united Swanu standing head and shoulders against the rest at the polls in November this year.
“And just as with past infights, the party will come out stronger and more united – it will cleanse itself. In fact, we have already started with our campaign activities, and come November, Swanu will be on the ballot paper along with other parties. Our supporters should not be too worried about the ongoing issues, but rather should be ready to go out and vote for their beloved party.”
Court battles
A few months ago, the two factions failed to reach an amicable solution to their leadership quarrel after they could not settle their dispute during a court-mandated mediation process.
Windhoek High Court judge Thomas Masuku had granted the order for the matter to be referred for mediation, which was in February.
In 2021, Swanu approached the High Court with claims that Katjivirue and his faction convened a national congress and elected themselves as party leaders, a move the Kaaronda-led Swanu claims was in direct contravention of the party’s constitution.
The disputed national congress took place on 21 August 2021, and Katjivirue was elected as party president.
The party claims that Katjivirue, supported by fellow party members Alpha Kangueehi, Kairanderua Katjari, Katuu Tjingaete, Sam Tjikuzu, Patricia Tjaronda, late former president Rihupisa Kandando and Apolonia Kangueehi, had no authority to convene the congress as per the party’s constitution.
Swanu’s current leadership, with the assistance of lawyer Edwin Coetzee, approached the court to seek an order to stop Katjivirue and his counterparts from their “unlawful conduct” of utilising the party’s letterhead, emblems and colours in their misinformation campaigns against the party.
They also wanted Katjivirue and his group to be restrained from holding themselves as elected office-bearers of Swanu, and that they may not evict the party from its offices situated on Rama Street, Katutura, Windhoek.
In their special plea, Katjivirue and his faction on the other hand claimed that those (the current leadership) who instituted a court case against them lack locus standi and authority to lodge the matter. In addition to that, the party did not exhaust all internal remedies as provided in its constitution to resolve the issues, they countered.
-ohembapu@nepc.com.na