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. The petition, dated 28 October 2026, claims that Shipunda acted outside the authority of the party's collective structures in relation to elections declared free and fair by duly appointed election committees.
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.
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.
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.
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. Shipunda declined to comment on the petition, but in a formal response, he said the disputed matters required further investigation and consideration by the relevant party structures.
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 dispute is part of a larger internal leadership dispute over the legitimacy of Grootfontein's mandate renewal process in the Otjozondjupa region. 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.
Key points
- Swapo Party members in Grootfontein have petitioned district coordinator James Shipunda over allegations of interference with internal party elections.
- The petitioners claim that Shipunda and businessman Josef Andreas unilaterally decided to annul the outcomes of completed internal elections.
- The dispute is part of a larger internal leadership dispute over the legitimacy of Grootfontein's mandate renewal process in the Otjozondjupa region.
