The official opposition, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), yesterday asked the ruling party to come clean on serious allegations suggesting it benefitted from the widely publicised Fishrot scandal. 
Swapo has within the past maintained it never benefitted from the Fishrot funds. 

However, in his leaked affidavit to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) last year, lawyer Sisa Namandje confirmed his law firm processed N$23 million, of which N$7.5 million was allegedly meant to fund the ruling party’s 2017 congress activities. In August 2017, Fishcor allegedly made a payment of N$2.5 million to Swapo, 

while private firm Mermaria reportedly paid N$5 million to the ruling party, the ACC has been told.
 “Following the stark revelations contained in lawyer Sisa Namandje’s affidavit to the ACC, the PDM challenges Swapo to come clean and inform the nation on how Swapo benefitted from money looted through Fishrot,” PDM secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe said yesterday. 
Ngaringombe said the PDM has always maintained Swapo has not been entirely honest about its involvement in the Fishrot scandal. 
In fact, he said, the affidavit provided by Namandje to the ACC contradicts the ruling party’s statement on the issue. 
The party has on several occasions refuted allegations that it got funds from the Fishrot scandal. 

President Hage Geingob last year said Swapo financial books are open for scrutiny and anyone was welcomed to review them. 
“We can give you audited Swapo reports and financial reports and you will not see any money coming from Fishrot. If names of people were mentioned and they are in court proceedings, we are not going to defend, influence and interfere in those proceedings,” Geingob said during a press conference in July. 

According to Ngaringombe, the sworn affidavit shows that payments to the tune of N$7.5 million were made through Sisa Namandje & Co’s trust account to Swapo in August 2017.  
“This is just the tip of the iceberg of the millions of dollars that were paid to various Swapo party leaders and entities,” he added. 
Swapo spokesperson Hilma Nicanor was not available for comment yesterday.
- ktjitemisa@nepc.com.na