Stefanus Nashama
Joseph Kauandenge, the secretary general of NUDO, has refuted allegations that he received payment to withdraw from the party presidential contest.
Kauandenge said this in an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Monday.
“I stated my reasons for opting out of the race for the presidency at the media briefing I had, where I expanded in detail on them, and they are still valid today. And no one paid me to fade out of the race. I really don’t know who would want me not to run. To achieve what objective?” he said.
He explained that he does not believe in dying in party politics. He added that he might use his qualifications to do something else while remaining an ordinary member of the party.
“I’m a businessman, an academic, and a farmer. Surely, I don’t believe that I must die in party politics. I might opt to do something else with my qualifications while remaining an ordinary party member as well,” he said.
Kauandenge was one of the four party members who were vying for the party presidency.
The other candidates were, the party’s vice president Peter Kazongomuinja, City of Windhoek deputy mayor Joseph Uapingene, and former Okakarara constituency councillor Vetaruhe Kandorozu.
The incumbent party president, Esther Muinjangue, also decided not to run for a second term.
Kauandenge added that he has no plans of joining a different party.
“I will have to wait for Congress to see what will transpire there, but for now, I have opted to just stay as an ordinary party member after the congress,” he said.
Kauandenge described himself as a political animal that remains steadfast in pursuing its objectives.
“I joined politics, especially student politics, when I was about 16 in 1988, before our independence. I have been active in politics for over 30 years now. I’m a political animal, and I will remain as such, whether I have a position within NUDO or not.
I’m a member of NUDO and will remain a member with or without a position in the party. I have no plans to join any other party because all parties have their own internal squabbles, and you can’t see any party that is not fighting in-house,” he said.
Kauandenge withdrew from the NUDO presidential race in April due to infighting within the party.
