The failed National Unity Democratic Organisation’s elective congress has a huge financial and credibility cost, and could further shatter the party’s unity.
Despite spending nearly N$1 million, of which N$300 000 was allegedly borrowed, the party’s long-awaited congress ended in tears this weekend.
Delegates to the congress started arriving in Windhoek on Thursday.
By Friday, it was all but certain that they would, the following day, install a new leadership that would steer their party’s future.
It was, however, not to be.
On Friday, the party’s national council was locked up in a meeting until midnight. The council’s failure to reach consensus on whether or not former Namibia Football Association secretary general Barry Rukoro would feature on the ballot was the bone of contention.
The meeting would resume on Saturday morning, putting the commencement of the congress on hold.
Still hot on the table was the name of Rukoro and his candidature.
At around 15h00, Nudo secretary general Joseph Kauandenge issued a statement.
“Mr Barry Rukoro is not a member of the Nudo party. Therefore, he cannot participate in the national congress of the party and stand for any elected position,” he announced.
When the New Era crew arrived at the Ramatex complex in Otjomuise around 17h45 – where the watershed intraparty congress was to take place – there was no sign of progress.
What could be seen, however, were delegates milling about. There was confusion as to the way forward. Some candidates vying for top positions, including Rukoro, could be seen surrounded by their supporters and elders, either receiving counsel on their next move, or devising various strategies on how to land the coveted post. Party leader Esther Muinjangue never made it to the venue, as anger was now simmering at dusk. A handful of police officers were at the venue to maintain law and order. While at the venue, we interviewed some delegates and supporters to gauge the congress’ temperature. Kauandenge’s statement met its match in the form of Rirua Komeheke, an outspoken figure in Ovaherero politics and a staunch Rukoro loyalist.
“No Barry, no congress,” was Komeheke’s catchphrase. Approached for comment on the situation yesterday, Rukoro said: “This outcome is a clear lack of competence and lack of understanding of the constitution of the party.” He said before congress, the secretary general’s, president’s and financial reports should have been tabled before the NC and NEC of the party.
None of this happened. “The party was completely not in a position to host a congress,” Rukoro said.
At around 19h00, a crisis meeting was convened at Parliament. “Hereby, I am inviting all NEC members to an ad hoc emergency meeting today, 13 July 2024, at 19h30. Venue: Parliament Nudo office,” read the message sent to Nudo national executive members, seen by this reporter.
About two hours later, the NEC had a position. “We would like to announce that an urgent NEC meeting was convened tonight in line with Article 20 of our constitution to discuss the scenario of chaos and anarchy currently prevailing at the Ramatex venue, where we were supposed to have our long-overdue congress today on 13 July 2024,” Muinjangue said in a statement. She continued: “After careful consideration of all facts and issues at our disposal, we as leaders have decided to call off our elective congress until further notice. This is to avert possible loss of lives and unnecessary harm that might befall our members because of the current situation prevailing there.”
She, with the blessing of the NEC, then deferred the party’s fourth national congress to a date to be pronounced at a later stage.
“We plead with our members to remain calm while the leadership deliberates and announces the way forward,” she said.
Yesterday, the NC had another meeting to chart the way forward.
At the time of going to press, little information was available regarding that meeting. When late Ovaherero paramount chief advocate Vekuii Rukoro endorsed Muinjangue as his preferred candidate for the Nudo presidency, a seed was planted, insiders say, and things would never be the same again. The seed meant that whoever became Nudo president depended largely on which Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) faction they came from, or if they were in the good books with the ombara otjitambi (paramount chief), as recently said by Kauandenge. When throwing in the towel, the aspiring Nudo president at the time equated the party to a ship on the verge of sinking if it did not rid itself of a “cancer” tearing it apart, figuratively referring to the OTA and its two factions.
Kauandenge said his decision to pull out of the Nudo presidential race was due to his affiliation with one OTA faction, which appears not to be in the good books of the powers that be. While Nudo and the OTA are symbiotically linked, Kauandenge said the relationship had now reached a different level, and the existence of Nudo as a political entity was under threat. If the weekend’s events are anything to go by, his prophesy over a month ago could be fulfilled.
In 2019, three candidates – Muinjangue, Kauandenge and former Okakarara constituency councillor Vetaruhe Kandorozu – put their hands up for Nudo’s coveted position.
Rukoro, despite being a card-carrying member and financier of the ruling Swapo Party, insisted on Muinjangue.
Muinjangue at the time was the chairperson of the Ovaherero Genocide Foundation, and worked closely with the late chief. Rukoro, according to people with an intricate political understanding of Nudo affairs, was sceptical of Kandorozu.
“The late chief at the time argued that Kandorozu was very arrogant, and as a party dominated by his subjects, it would be difficult for him to influence its direction. The chief felt that Kauandenge had hopped from party to party over the years and was, therefore, unstable and untrustworthy. So, he insisted on Muinjangue, and had his way,” said the insider. This precedent would implode in the faces of Nudo’s 700 congress delegates on Saturday.
While the two Ovaherero paramount chiefs, academics Mutjinde Katjiua and Hoze Riruako have each not openly endorsed any candidate for the Nudo top post, it was evident that the Katjiua faction is behind Rukoro, while Riruako’s faction has thrown all its weight behind former Windhoek mayor Joseph Uapingene. The two groups do not see eye-to-eye, and are opposed on key Ovaherero issues. Both Riruako and Katjiua were not reachable for comment yesterday.
“I am a candidate for Nudo. Paramount chief professor Mutjinde Katjiua is not a Nudo member. So, whoever is claiming that [I represent his faction] is just spreading a misguided opinion,” Rukoro said.
However, responding to New Era earlier, Katjiua said, “My response is simple: My office is non-partisan. Therefore, I play no active role in party politics, be it in Botswana, RSA, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Angola or Namibia where Ovaherero are citizens.”
Meanwhile, Kandorozu and Aminuis constituency councillor Peter Kazongominja were the other two contenders. Both are not affiliated with any OTA faction, New Era further understands.
As things stand, for Nudo, the status quo remains, with Muinjangue as party leader and possibly presidential candidate, despite her earlier indication that she was calling it a day.
It remains to be seen if Nudo will organise another congress to elect new leaders between now and October, which is the final month for the nomination of presidential candidates.
“We are going to challenge the legitimacy of postponing the congress… we will continue to campaign for Nudo, whether we’re in power or not, it’s the voice of our people; it’s the heritage of chief Hosea Kutako, and we’re going to kick out agents of Swapo from Nudo; those who want to destabilise it,” Rukoro said.
Kandorozu said it is unfortunate that Nudo members were denied their democratic and constitutional right.
“Democracy is expensive by nature because it seeks to ensure that everyone, at every level, is included, and their voice is counted. So, it’s not so much about the money, but the process,” he said. Kandorozu continued: “Nudo members were denied an opportunity to exercise their right because some members refused to accept the leadership’s decision, which is unfortunate.”
He also took issue with the lack of security at the venue. “The leadership failed to reinforce security, despite knowing that threats and signals were there. We don’t deserve to be protected by three officers. We are taxpayers too. If it was a Swapo congress, you would have seen all uniformed members surrounding the venue,” he said. “We are looking forward to the next congress. In the meantime, we will support the current leadership, and ensure Nudo gets the necessary support,” Kandorozu said.