Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Swapo Party Deputy Secretary General, Uahekua Herunga said the party will go to court to defend its decision not to hold an extraordinary congress within three months as stipulated by its constitution.
This is after the party failed to host an extraordinary congress as instructed by lawyer Richard Metcalfe from Metcalfe Beukes Attorneys to hold an extraordinary congress on or before 4 May.
“We cannot refuse to go to court because the court told us to be in court, and if we have to answer anything, we will be able to answer in court because we cannot ignore our own court,” he said.
Herunga said if the party is summoned by the court to answer questions, then the leadership will provide direction and go to court.
He explained that the central committee decision was communicated to party members and sympathisers, but some chose to handle the issues their own way.
On 26 April, Metcalfe, representing Swapo members Reinhold Shipwikineni, Peter Shituula, and Joshua-Vaino Martins, warned that litigation will ensue without debate if the Central Committee does not act promptly to convene the extraordinary Congress and elect a new SWAPO Party President.
He explained that the central committee should hold an extraordinary congress in accordance with party rules.
Swapo’s central committee in March decided that 19 April 2025 would be the date when an extraordinary party congress will be held.
Metcalfe accused the Central Committee of using “ridiculous reasoning” to delay the party president’s election by scheduling it 14 months after the vacancy occurred.
“Our clients wish to make it categorically clear that they oppose factionalism and have no hidden agendas to advance any specific SWAPO Party member’s aspirations to supplant the nominated presidential candidate for national elections in November 2024, notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 53 of SWAPO Party Rules and Procedures for the Election of Party Office Bearers. Such a rule can be amended at the Extraordinary Congress,” he said.
