THE appointment of relatives, children and close associates of Swapo politburo members to run party-owned businesses has led to accusations of favouritism within the ruling party’s faction aligned to presidential candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The appointments of businessman Elmo Kaiyamo, the son of politburo member Elia Kaiyamo, and Faith Witbooi, the daughter of Swapo’s secretary of education, arts and culture, Lucia Witbooi, have specifically been called into question.
Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa, who is aligned to the Nandi-Ndaitwah faction in the party, has been accused of being close to the children of politburo members.
Several Swapo leaders have questioned the merits of the process Shaningwa followed to come up with a list of names.
Shaningwa has dismissed the allegations, saying those complaining were “politically naive”.
She says she found the directors serving on various boards before she was elected as Swapo’s secretary general in December 2017.
“This is nonsense. I am not an evil person who kicks Namibians around to satisfy the wishes of irresponsible character,” Shaningwa says.
‘ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE’
Nandi-Ndaitwah yesterday referred The Namibian to Shaningwa’s office, saying appointments are an administrative issue.
Shaningwa last month wrote to the party’s secretary of economic affairs, Bernadette Jagger, notifying her that the politburo appointed 24 people as board members of four Swapo companies.
“As provided for by Article 13 (15) of the Swapo party constitution […] the following members have been appointed by the political bureau of the Swapo party as board of directors of respective Swapo party companies, effective 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2026,” she wrote.
The companies are Kalahari Holdings, Guinas Investment, Zebra Holdings and the Centre for Resources and Transformation (Ceret).
The new Kalahari Holdings board members include: former chief executive officer (CEO) of the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) Martin Inkumbi, who is the chairperson, NBC board member Mona-Lisa Jacobs, Uveniko Negongo, Abraham Job, Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) secretary Ephraim Nekongo, and Elizabeth Asino.
Swapo is known to run its business empire through Kalahari Holdings, of which the portfolio includes 51% shares – estimated to be worth around N$250 million – in MultiChoice Namibia.
But the holding company has faced financial troubles over the years.
Businessman Elmo Kaiyamo, who has served on the Kalahari board for the past five years, has been appointed as the chairperson of Ceret alongside Faith Witbooi, the daughter of Lucia Witbboi.
Ceret owns Ondjombo Lodge at the Ruacana constituency in the Omusati region.
Politburo member Elia Kaiyamo, who is also Namibia’s ambassador to China, on Sunday told The Namibian he would not discuss internal politburo matters in the media.
“Furthermore, with regards to Elmo Kaiyamo’s appointment, kindly contact the secretary general’s office for clarity on what merits he was appointed on,” he said.
His son Elmo referred The Namibian to Swapo’s headquarters.
Other appointees on the Ceret board include Swapo officials Frans Kaundinge, Lüderitz deputy mayor Brigitte Fredericks, unionist Philip Munenguni and National Housing Enterprise (NHE) finance manager Beverly Vugs.
‘NO INFLUENCE’
Contacted for comment on Monday, parliamentarian Lucia Witbooi, who supported Nandi-Ndaiwah’s 2022 congress faction, said she did not influence the appointment of her daughter as she was in the Erongo region with parliamentary work at the time.
She said she was not part of the politburo meeting where the appointments were discussed.
“Therefore, how could I declare my interest in something I was not aware of?” she asked.
Witbooi said her daughter does not need her permission to do what she wants to do.
“She is a full member of Swapo . . . and paid up for that matter,” she said.
Witbooi denied that Pieters is a relative of hers.
“Go to the Swapo office in //Kharas and you will have more information about him. He is a Swapo member too that can benefit from being appointed as board member.
“A skilled person.”
Faith Witbooi did not answer calls to her cellphone this week. She did not respond to two text messages sent to her yesterday either.
Guinas Investment board, which owned 2,14% in Rosh Pinah Zinc through Petunia Investments Four, and 0,8% in PE Minerals, which was co-owned by the late Aaron Mushimba, former president Sam Nujoma’s brother-in-law, has also attracted attention.
Guinas has a stake in Jaguar Investments, which co-owns Rosh Pinah Zinc.
Guinas also owns 32,2% shares in the 73-room Nest Hotel at Lüderitz through a company called Oshihadhila Investment.
The Guinas board includes George Pieters, businessman Joseph Andreas, Tuyenikelao Nicanor, Joseph Katukula and Aina Kaundu.
Pieters’ appointment is being criticised by party insiders.
They say Pieters is close to the Witboois.
Pieters himself referred The Namibian to Shaningwa’s office when contacted for comment on Monday.
HEALTH AND RADIO
Swapo’s other business entity, Zebra Holdings, has interests in radio and other partnerships, such as Methealth Namibia Administrators, which manages the state-owned Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme (Psemas).
Deputy minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi’s assistant, Miriam Nghidipo, has been appointed as deputy chairperson of Zebra Holdings.
Nghidipo says she is young and capable. She says she was initially appointed in 2019 when Nekundi was not a politburo member.
Nekundi did not answer his phone yesterday.
Other appointees are Paulina Haindongo, who is the chairperson of Guinas Investment.
Haindongo is a relative of Shaningwa’s personal assistant, Tangeni Haindongo.
Paulina yesterday said her first appointment to the board was made when vice president Nangolo Mbumba was Swapo’s secretary general.
“Tangeni was appointed as deputy executive director in 2018, together with the executive director by the political bureau.
“They already found me serving the board and party. My reappointment is based on merit and performance only,” she said.
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