DTA boots out Kaura POLITICAL commentators have warned that the decision to axe former DTA president Katuutire Kaura might backfire on the party by chasing away traditional voters and affecting its credibility. The decision to expel Kaura, who until Saturday was one of the two DTA members of parliament and leader of the party since 1998, was made at the party’s executive committee’s extra-ordinary meeting held in Windhoek. DTA spokesperson Nico Smit announced the decision yesterday, saying that the executive committee also resolved that Kaura’s successor McHenry Venaani will replace him in the National Assembly when it opens for business in two weeks’ time. “The meeting’s sole agenda item was to discuss the disciplinary measures to be taken against Kaura after he brought the party into dispute, undermined authority of the leadership of the party and instigated factionalism and divisiveness within DTA,” Smit said. The meeting, which moved a vote of no confidence in Kaura, was attended by 30 people - 27 voted in favour of the motion while two opposed it, with one abstaining. Kaura can appeal the decision by writing to the party’s central committee. Kaura, who turns 73 today, declined to comment on his dismissal yesterday, saying he has not yet received any formal notification. The Namibian can, however, reveal that Kaura was given an opportunity to give the disciplinary panel his side of the story, but the veteran politician only stood up to question the legitimacy of the meeting, branding the gathering a “kangaroo court”, before he stormed out. When The Namibian broke the story about the infighting within DTA and plans to kick Kaura out, the veteran politician tried to fight for his place in the party by using lawyers who wrote about five letters to the DTA leadership in the last two weeks. Among those letters was his suggestion that the meeting that was held over the weekend, and which decided his fate, should be cancelled and a disciplinary hearing postponed. It is not clear whether Kaura will take the party to court. However, some party executives are expecting a legal battle while others speculate that Kaura might join another political party. Political commentator and executive director of the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) Graham Hopwood also believes that the decision is likely to end up in court and that this will affect the party’s appeal during this election year. According to Hopwood, Kaura was one of the few party figures linked to the pre-independent DTA, after becoming a member in the 1980s, and later its leader (in 1998) after the ouster of Mishake Muyongo over the secession of the Zambezi Region. “If he does ultimately leave the party, it may be that those traditional party supporters will also drift away. Even though they are only a few thousand voters, they have helped the party to gain two seats in the National Assembly,” Hopwood explains. He said it’s not clear if Venaani’s appeal as a younger, more dynamic politician will be enough to compensate for the loss of the traditional party voters, who may drift towards Nudo or other parties. “It does create the possibility for Venaani to drop the DTA brand altogether and come up with a new political formation - possibly targeting the youth - that does not have the colonial baggage that was always so damaging to the DTA,” Hopwood suggested. He said this may not happen before the 2014 election, though, but could be a long term strategy. “The danger for the DTA under Venaani is that this will now end up in a legal dispute if Kaura chooses to challenge his suspension. A courtroom battle and continued infighting would only damage the DTA’s prospects for the coming election,” Hopwood said, adding that Kaura’s options are limited, although he could join Nudo if Kuaima Riruako accommodates him. Hopwood does not think Kaura shares the left-wing sensibilities of Swanu. He warned Venaani to stop the infighting if the party is to be a credible option for voters. “Small parties cannot afford such damaging disputes among their leading figures as shown by the demise of the Congress of Democrats after the battles between Ben Ulenga, Nora Schimming-Chase and Ignatius Shixwameni,” he advised. Another political analyst, Joseph Diescho, agreed with Hopwood that opposition parties cannot afford to have power squabbles, saying the decision to give Kaura the boot was not correct. “It is not a good decision at this point in time. It is very unfortunate and will likely affect the party’s credibility in the eyes of the public. For the country itself, it does not reflect well for the general opposition climate. It is very unfortunate that this internal squabble has culminated into this decision,” Diescho said. It is not only raining in DTA, it’s pouring as the party is also braving for another court battle. Kaura has decided to sue Venaani for N$2 million for defamation after media reports two weeks ago quoted the DTA president, alleging that some members of his party were planning to assassinate him. The report said Venaani had strengthened his security amid fears of his life being under threat. Venaani’s supporters, who dominate the party’s executive, are irked that Kaura has over the years resisted change. Sources say, even though the axing of Kaura had been coming since Venaani took over, the former president’s alleged holding of party meetings at his house and his public comments about the current leadership also contributed to his downfall. A source told The Namibian that Kaura owes the party about N$140 000, which, according to those in the know, the former president refuses to repay. Other allegations imply that Kaura has not accepted change and, amongst others, opposed proposals to change the name of DTA, which according to the source who supports Venaani, should be done in order to move with the times. Two weeks ago, Kaura accused Venaani of flushing out DTA followers who supported him before the elective central committee last year. Venaani, in turn, accused Kaura of resorting to “dishonesty [in order] to tarnish the image of his successor”. Member of parliament Philemon Moongo, a Kaura sympathiser, is one of the two members who objected the motion of no confidence. Moongo proposed at the meeting that the party leadership look at ways to reconcile. This suggestion, however, was shot down. He was also of the opinion that Kaura should not be fired while there is a court case of Kaura suing Venaani for N$2 million for defamation in the alleged assassination plot. Moongo, a former DTA of Namibia vice president, warned the gathering that democracy would suffer if Kaura was given the boot as they were not being tolerant enough. namibian.na/indexx.php?id=8832&page_type=story_detail&category_id=1
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 06:06:21 +0000
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