A questionable property deal involving the DTA office in Rundu yesterday led to the suspension of party secretary general Vinsent Kanyetu and the coordinators for Kavango West and Kavango East regions. Party president McHenry Venaani made the announcement at the party’s headquarters, saying the trio were suspended on charges relating to the mismanagement of party assets and resources.
“Pending the outcome of the investigations, the party’s management committee has taken a decision to suspend the following members with immediate effect: Vinsent Kanyetu, Boniface Kashera (Kavango West) and Reinhilde Kudumo (Kavango East),” said Venaani.
He added that suspending the three was the most difficult decision he had to make since becoming party president in 2013.
DTA sources in Rundu told this publication that the suspensions are linked to the mismanagement of the party’s office in Rundu.
According to Venaani various irregularities occurred. He said the decision to suspend the three was to allow transparency and accountability within the party, which is currently the main opposition.
The Rundu Town Council yesterday told New Era the DTA had signed a deed of sale to acquire the immovable property in 2013 for N$82 740. By yesterday the payment was still outstanding. “We cannot say whether the DTA has sold the plot, but since they have signed the deed of sale with the town council, it was up to them to decide whether to sell it to a third party or not,” said a town council official. New Era can confirm that the DTA’s regional headquarters, which is located in the heart of Rundu measuring 1379 square metres, has been sold after speaking to a representative of the buyer, Matthew Wakudumo.
Two small business operators running upholstery and refrigeration outlets that are renting space on the disputed plot yesterday said that they pay monthly rent of N$1 000 each to Wakudumo, former regional coordinator for the All People’s Party in Kavango East.
Wakudumo said he has been managing the property since January this year, adding that DTA had sold the plot to a businessman whom he declined to reveal.
“I can confirm that they sold it to a businessman who tasked me to take care of the plot. I cannot mention his name without his permission,” said Wakudumo. Calls to get comment from the trio were futile yesterday. Venaani said Kanyetu would receive half of his monthly salary during the course of the investigations. The party also confiscated the official party vehicle that Kanyetu was using. The deputy regional coordinators for Kavango East and Kavango West, Adriano Simon and Lukas Simbombo, will act as coordinators until all investigations are concluded.
He said the party would communicate with its members in due course on the election of an acting secretary general.
“The decision has been communicated to all the party’s regional leadership structures. I want to assure all members and the country at large that there is calm around the situation,” said Venaani.