SWAKOPMUND -The Independent Patriots for Change have told their Swakopmund constituency councillor Ciske Smith-Howard to either resign or get fired.
Smith-Howard, who has been at loggerheads with the party, was informed about this via a letter on Wednesday after an arbitration was held in Windhoek by the IPC Arbitration Committee.
She was initially summoned on 18 December to establish whether she had committed misconduct or breached provisions of relevant legislation.
Smith-Howard, who is also the party’s chairperson for the Erongo region, yesterday confirmed that she received the letter, and was still making sense of it.
She has also been accused of fraudulent activities involving documents that she submitted to verify her proof of residence as required by the Regional Councils Act 22 of 1992, and was restrained in October 2021 by the IPC from acting in any manner or form on behalf of the IPC or any representative of the party.
She was reinstated earlier this year after recommendations by Attorney General Festus Mbandeka, but was hit with her marching orders by the IPC.
“It’s not like they have given me a choice. Either way, they want me out of the party”, she said yesterday.
However, she said she still has time to make her decision.
“Maybe what I wanted at the party is not what I received , and vice versa. However, it’s not the end of the road for me as a lot still needs to be done”.
According to the letter seen by New Era yesterday, the arbitration committee meeting took place on 16 April 2022, and then made the decision with regard to her fate.
The letter states that the committee decided that it would be appropriate for the party to request Smith-Howard to resign from the position of regional councillor, a position that she has obtained as an elected IPC party representative.
“Failure of this will leave the party with no other option but to terminate her party membership forthwith.
You are hereby notified to comply with the recommendations no later than Friday, 13 May, failure which the party will implement the latter part of the recommendation from the arbitration committee,” the letter reads.
Called for comment yesterday, IPC spokesperson Imms Nashinge refused to comment, saying the matter is between the party and its member.
“Let her comment because the letter was sent to her,” he added.
Caption: (Ciske) Go... IPC has told their Swakopmund constituency councillor Ciske Smith-Howard to resign.
Photo: Eveline de Klerk