‘They are afraid of me’ – Andreas …as Swapo member petition Grootfontein coordinator of election dispute

Renthia Kaimbi

A group of Swapo Party members from three branches in Grootfontein has petitioned district coordinator James Shipunda, accusing him of allegedly interfering with internal party elections and demanding that he reverse decisions purportedly seeking to annul the results.

In a petition dated 28 October 2026, members from the Cassinga, Rakutuka and Okahenge branches accused Shipunda of acting outside the authority of the party’s collective structures in relation to elections they claim were declared free and fair by duly appointed election committees.

The petition, addressed to Shipunda in his capacity as Grootfontein district coordinator, gave him until 15:00 on 29 October to withdraw any unilateral decisions or directives seeking to set aside the disputed results, restore the declared outcomes and refrain from further interference.

The petitioners warned that failure to comply would result in the matter being escalated through the appropriate party structures.

The dispute involves members from Cassinga Branch, including the Dr Libertine Amandhila and Hendrick Witbooi sections, Rakutuka Branch’s Vatileni Section, and Okahenge Branch’s Mungunda Section.

They allege that Shipunda, together with businessman Josef Andreas, unilaterally decided to annul the outcomes of completed internal elections because the results did not favour their preferred faction.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and the petition does not include a response from Shipunda or Andreas.

However, when contacted for comment yesterday, Shipunda declined to comment on the petition.

“I’m not busy working. I work up to five o’clock. I’m busy with something else now. Call me tomorrow neh,” he said.

However, in a formal response to the petitioners yesterday, Shipunda has denied allegations that the Cassinga, Kahenge and Rakutuka branches were nullified, following a petition accusing him and Josef Andreas of interfering with branch election results.

He said the disputes stemmed from complaints about membership cards allegedly bearing forged signatures of the party’s Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa and suspiciously similar serial numbers.

He said the district office had identified 13 questionable cards in the Cassinga branch and 10 in Rakutuka, while similar concerns had been raised in Kahenge.

He maintained that the disputed matters required further investigation and consideration by the relevant party structures.

Shipunda said the Cassinga branch’s results would be considered by the newly elected District Executive, while a report on the membership-card allegations would be submitted to the Political Bureau.

He challenged anyone claiming that the branches had been nullified to provide evidence.

The petitioners argue that the elections were conducted by duly appointed election committees and that their declarations should stand unless challenged through the procedures prescribed by the party’s rules.

They cited Rule 26 of the Swapo Party Rules and Procedures, which states that the election committee is the exclusive authority responsible for directing, supervising and controlling party elections in a free, fair and impartial manner.

The petitioners further relied on Rule 79, which provides for an election petition to be brought by a party member who lawfully voted in an election or by an aggrieved candidate.

According to the petition, no election petitions were lodged by members or candidates from the affected sections and branches.

They contend that Shipunda cannot independently initiate or determine an election dispute in the absence of the prescribed process.

The petition also invoked Rule 77, which, according to the signatories, assigns the Regional Executive Committee authority to hear petitions arising from branch elections, while the District Executive Committee is responsible for petitions arising from section elections.

The members argue that neither Shipunda acting alone nor Shipunda and Andreas jointly have the authority to hear, decide or annul the election outcomes.

They accuse the two of assuming the roles of complainant, prosecutor and judge, arguing that this undermines procedural fairness and the party’s internal democratic processes.

Andreas denied any involvement in the matters raised in the petition, adding that there is no truth in the allegations.

“I have nothing to do with this. People are just afraid of me,” he told the Windhoek Observer.

The petitioners maintain that the party’s rules and constitution must take precedence over individual interests and factional considerations.

They demanded that Shipunda formally withdraw any decisions or directives purporting to annul the elections, uphold the results as declared by the election committees and stop any further interference outside the collective authority of the District Executive Committee.

The group warned that it would take all necessary steps to defend the integrity of internal party democracy if its demands were not met.

The petition was copied to members of the Grootfontein District Executive Committee, the regional coordinator Immanuel ‘Imms’ Namaseb and Hofni Iipinge, chairperson of leaders assigned to the region.

The document includes lists of signatories said to represent the affected branches and sections.

Last week, the Windhoek Observer reported on an internal leadership dispute over the legitimacy of Grootfontein’s mandate renewal process in the Otjozondjupa region.

Namaseb rejected directives from Iipinge.

Iipinge argued that a Political Bureau-appointed task force had already renewed section mandates in April 2025, while Namaseb described that process as illegal and unconstitutional.

The dispute also centred on Shipunda’s tenure, which Shaningwa, confirmed had expired in August 2026.

Shaningwa subsequently directed Shipunda to convene the overdue Grootfontein District Conference by 31 October 2026.