By Kuvee Kangueehi
WINDHOEK
A disputed cheque belonging to the Congress of Democrats (CoD), which was reported stolen or missing, has been found in the CoD Parliamentary Caucus account at the NedBank branch in Windhoek.
New Era has learnt that the cheque valued at N$265 000 was paid into the account on 19 July, the same day it was collected from Parliament, and the has already been withdrawn.
A source inside the CoD claimed that N$183 000 has already been withdrawn from the account. The source said the first withdrawal of N$50 000 was made 28 July, and N$29 000 was withdrawn at different times.
On 2 and 3 August, N$9 000 and N$10 500 was withdrawn respectively, while on 11 August N$40 000 was withdrawn.
The last amount to be withdrawn at the time of going to the press was N$17 000 which was made yesterday morning.
The leader of the CoD faction, which terms itself the “CoD Majority” Ignatius Shixwameni, confirmed that the cheque was indeed paid into the Parliamentary Caucus account at NedBank.
Shixwameni said he and Nora Schimming-Chase are the signatories to this account and have withdrawn some funds from the account.
He, however, noted that they only withdrew N$40 000 which was used to pay accommodation and catering expenses incurred at Keetmanshoop during the congress.
He said the Ulenga group, currently running the office, ignored the debts since Keetmanshoop congress.
Shixwameni said they decided to pay the accounts because the bookings were done by Kalla Gertze who was then secretary-general and that creditors were demanding money from him.
Meanwhile, Shixwameni said the group’s lawyer has alerted the Registrar of Court about their application.
Adding that they made a semi-urgent application and hope that the High Court will make a ruling soon on the disputed leadership of the party.
Shixwameni’s group wants Ulenga and his group to move out of office, and an interim committee to take over the running of the party until the next congress.
The demand follows the outcome of an audit panel, which called for Ulenga and his leadership to dissolve and an interim committee to take over the running of the party.
However, Ulenga and his group maintain that the audit panel was “specifically mandated to ascertain the facts and clarify the issue in respect of a number of irregularities and dishonest conduct avertedly committed by the office bearers regarding the conduct of the said Congress and the elections thereof”.
The group claims that the audit panel investigated only selective facts and have failed to investigate the majority of the most important allegations, as well as failed to clarify or reject allegations of dishonesty on the part of the party officials. Hence they have not completed their mandate.