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Shaningwa responds to ‘bitterness’ claims

SG tells Karembera to remain 'calm'
Swapo SG Sophia Shaningwa has responded to accusations made by party member Simuku Paulus Karembera in a widely-circulated audio recording.
Kenya Kambowe
Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa has responded to staunch Swapo foot soldier Simuku Paulus Karembera, who accused the party’s administrative head of being a selfish leader and a "salary collector" who is running the affairs of the party for her own gratification.

These allegations are contained in a widely-circulated audio authored by Karembera, well known as Kafu kaNamibia, who did not hold back when he claimed Shaningwa was allegedly destroying the party ahead of the 2024 presidential and national assembly slated for later this year.

Karembera accused Shaningwa of being bitter and of purging party leaders who did not support her candidacy at the party’s 2022 elective congress, where she was re-elected into the position that she currently holds.

Allegations made

In the audio, he makes reference to Shaningwa’s alleged involvement in a plan to remove one of the Swapo councillors in the Oniipa town council who did not support her candidacy when she was contesting for the position against the current Swapo Party Oshikoto coordinator, Armas Amukwiyu.

Karembera confirmed being the author of the audio and said he stands by his words.

“Don't think that Swapo belongs to you. Swapo belongs to everyone. You are just a secretary, and you are just a salary collector, because you don't want to work your work as a secretary-general," Karembera said.

“You are the people who don't like all the people. Shaningwa, let me tell you one thing. Don't think that you have power for everyone. You are also a person like others.”

Shaningwa’s response

Shaningwa, in a written response, told Namibian Sun: “I want to make it categorically clear that I cannot be associated with bitterness because I participated in a heavy contestation during the Party’s seventh congress, knowing that there would be those who wouldn’t make it and those who shall win,” Shaningwa said.

“I was not hand-picked, hence a heavy contestation; I got voted overwhelmingly by the majority. Unfortunately, I don’t know who voted for me and who didn't. All I know is that Kafu was not part and parcel of the seventh congress delegates. "Therefore, I do not know on whose behalf he is acting the way he does," she stated.

"I am not really interested in bitterness type of behaviour because I am the SG of Swapo Party, and I appreciate the support and the trust the seventh congress delegates have given to me. So Kafu must remain calm.”

On the issue of Oniipa, Shaningwa responded by saying: “I do not know what Kafu is talking about because I never visited Oniipa as the secretary-general. Kafu must be consoled. He is misplacing his bitterness, and he must do self-introspection in that regard,” Shaningwa said.

Entitled to opinion

On the allegation of treating Swapo as her own party, Shaningwa said Karembera is entitled to his opinion.

“I am a registered and card-carrying member of the Swapo Party since 1978 to date. If Kafu feels that I am treating Swapo as my own party, that is his opinion, and he is free and entitled to his opinion, and that shall not derail me as a member of the Swapo Party,” Shaningwa said.

“The seventh congress of Swapo elected me as secretary-general for five years, and I know very well that I have four years to cover until the eighth congress of Swapo is called again to take decisions," she said.

“Kafu must also know that all stones thrown at me shall never be thrown away, as they all shall be utilised to build a protective wall.”

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-23

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