Martin Endjala
The Swapo Party Spokesperson Hilma Nicanor has refuted allegations that the SWAPO Party’s Headquarter construction has been halted due to a lack of funds.
According to her, construction is still ongoing and the inauguration of the building is yet to be announced. Sources say that the party is awaiting funds from one of its companies and that the money has not yet been received. In the meantime, the Chinese contractor has reportedly reduced the workforce drastically. Sources claim the cost of the building is N$1 billion.
“No it’s not true, the headquarters construction did not stop, it is still ongoing. When the construction started, there was a timeline, stating when it will be completed and the inauguration date. At the moment both dates are yet to be announced”, said the Swapo Spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Swapo Party Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa also rejected the claims.
“It’s not true, when we started with the construction of the Swapo party head office we never consulted newspapers, so I will not be discussing this”, Shaningwa said.
She was quoted in 2022 saying “we have taken the decision that when we are constructing it, it should not be covered. So that you people cannot know what we are doing. The day it opens, you will see the surprise,”.
“I don’t see any reason, why the Windhoek Observer should be concerned with regards to the completion of the headquarters of Swapo, you are a newspaper, your work is to go there and see and not ask me.”Shaningwa said at the time.
Reports suggest that the N$730 million building is spearheaded by a Chinese company, Unik Construction Engineering and construction work commenced in June 2019.
The headquarters is rumoured to be a fully functional modern ten-storey office complex to accommodate the office of Former President, Sam Nujoma, office for current party President, Hage Geingob, amongst others with also a 170-vehicle parking lot.
The construction of the headquarters sparked controversy among the country’s citizens, dismayed over the ruling party’s decision to build a modern complex opposite a crumbling state hospital, the Katutura State Hospital.
During her annual address to the Swapo Party staff member last year, Shaningwa said the party’s headquarters opposite the aging and dilapidated Katutura State Hospital, has become the subject of public comment with some suggesting that it be transformed into a state of the art hospital.
She said that the building has not been constructed to accommodate a hospital with doctors’ surgeries.
On numerous occasions, Shaningwa stressed that the money to construct the modern office building came from Kalahari Holdings and its subsidiaries as well as individuals who contributed, adding that the building has the capacity to accommodate big and small conferences and is nearing completion.
A gold-coloured statue of the former President Sam Nujoma was also recently mounted on top of the Swapo’s headquarters in Windhoek (opposite Katutura Hospital). He currently has three statues.
