Those involved in the ongoing leadership dispute of Namibia’s oldest political party, Swanu, have decided to try and reach an amicable solution in their squabble.
“The parties believe that the matter can be settled and request that the case be referred to Court Connected Mediation,” reads a joint status report by both parties.
Yesterday, Windhoek High Court judge Thomas Masuku granted the order for the matter to be referred for mediation, scheduled for 27 February. The court ordered the parties to report to it on the outcome on 16 March.
In 2021, Swanu approached the High Court with claims Charles Katjivirue and his faction convened a national congress and elected themselves as leaders of the party, contravening Swanu’s constitution.
The disputed national congress took place on 21 August 2021, and Katjivirue was elected as party president.
The party claims Katjivirue, supported by fellow party members Alpha Kangueehi, Kairanderua Katjari, Katuu Tjingaete, Sam Tjikuzu, Patricia Tjaronda, former president Rihupisa Kandando, and Apolonia Kangueehi, had no authority to convene the congress as per party’s constitution.
Swanu’s current leadership, with the assistance of lawyer Edwin Coetzee, approached the court seeking 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 may not evict the party from its offices situated on Rama Street, Katutura, Windhoek.
In their special plea, Katjivirue et al claim that those (the current leadership) who instituted a court case against them lack locus standi and authority to lodge the matter and in addition to that, the party did not exhaust local remedies provided in its constitution.
They further claim the application does not make sense, as those who instituted it do not seek to set aside the outcome of the elections where they were elected but seek orders to stop them from performing their duties.