Shaningwa’s ‘conflict’ under the spotlight

Swapo Party secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa faces accusations of acting as both player and referee during the run-up to the upcoming party congress - amid claims she could swing matters in favour of her slate.Her role as a candidate vying to retain her position as secretary-general, which means running the party’s administration machinery, is not sitting well with some quarters, especially the camps she is contesting against.Shaningwa is part of a group supporting incumbent party vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, which also includes Lucia Witbooi as candidate for deputy secretary-general.On her part, Shaningwa will have to fend off Oshikoto regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu in order to retain her position.This is unchartered political waters for the party, since it is the first time it finds itself in a situation where an incumbent secretary-general is competing for re-election. She could make history by becoming the first ever Swapo secretary-general to be re-elected post-independence.Shaningwa’s predecessors - in the form of Moses Garoeb, Nangolo Mbumba, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, the late Ngarikutuke Tjiriange and Hifikepunye Pohamba - all served once in the position.Swapo is currently without a deputy secretary-general, to whom Shaningwa could have delegated some of her conflicting duties.Breaking no rulesCritics have argued that, in the absence of a national preparatory committee, Shaningwa is in charge of receiving complaints from disgruntled delegates and candidates as well as budgeting, vetting and all related logistics pertaining to congress.“What we have seen so far is that where complaints are convenient for her ambitions, she does not act. This can’t be fair,” a former Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) national executive committee member commented recently.Swapo insiders also claim that the reason why the party is yet to constitute committees to manage congress preparations is due to the fact that Shaningwa is mainly busy canvassing for support from delegates in the regions.Sources in Shaningwa’s camp who spoke to this publication are, however, adamant that she is breaking no rules in the face of conflict-of-interest claims related to congress.Another insider said the conflict-of-interest talks are “nothing else but plans by her competitors to thwart her from retaining her seat”.Red flagsKaire Mbuende, who is said to be Nandi-Ndaitwah’s campaign manager, opined that there is nothing wrong with Shaningwa’s current role.“I don&#039;t think a conflict of interest exists. Her term of office will end at congress. She is not running the party single-handedly; other members are involved. It is a standard practice that everyone steps down before congress,” he said.Swapo central committee members Peya Mushelenga and Tobie Aupindi, who reportedly serve as campaign managers for vice-president candidates Pohamba Shifeta and Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila respectively, were not available for comment.Despite not explicitly calling out Shaningwa’s alleged conflict, Mushelenga this week raised red flags around the fact that no committees to manage the congress preparation process have been constituted just over a month before the big event.Mushelenga, rather perplexed about the situation, said it might have an adverse impact on congress.“It has been complained that some names of some delegates have been removed from the delegates’ list without their knowledge or the knowledge of district coordinators and replaced with the so-called ‘alternate delegates’,” he added.Halfway markWith the regional campaigns at the halfway mark, candidates contesting for the top four positions will converge under one roof today for a critical central committee meeting.The meeting will discuss - amongst other things - Jerry Ekandjo’s bid to be allowed to contest for the vice-presidency position, Shaningwa’s alleged conflict as well as the composition of committees to facilitate preparations.The candidates have so far addressed delegates in seven regions - Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena, Erongo, Omaheke and Khomas.Efforts to reach Shaningwa and party spokesperson Hilma Nikanor proved futile after neither answered calls made to them, while the party’s executive director Austin Samupwa said “I do not want to answer on behalf of the secretary-general”.

Shaningwa’s ‘conflict’ under the spotlight

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Shaningwa’s ‘conflict’ under the spotlight

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