Luqman Cloete

LEADERS of the Democratic Party of Namibia (DPN) are at odds over the names of the 41 candidates submitted to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) on Monday for the National Assembly election.

DPN chairperson Adam Baisako yesterday denounced the list, accusing fellow leaders of ignoring the party's constitution by nominating candidates at a consultative meeting.

He charged that only a party congress had the authority to nominate candidates for the National Assembly election.

Baisako said the party's scheduled congress at Mariental a week ago had to be called off at the last minute because delegates from all the regions, except Karas and Hardap, had failed to turn up.

The delegates were unable to attend the congress because of financial constraints, The Namibian was reliably informed.

Baisako claimed that some candidates "who have not broken their ties with the Swapo Party" are topping the list at the expense of those who founded the party a year ago.
Baisako is 14th on the list.

"I am one of the founding members, but am placed 14th on the list. How is it possible?" Baisako asked.

Baisako also claimed that delegates from regions other than Karas and Hardap had been deliberately excluded.

Hitting back, DPN Secretary General Adam Isaak claimed Baisako had been "planted by the Swapo Party to derail the party's progress".

"As of today Baisako should regard himself as being expelled from DPN. We'll soon inform him formally about his expulsion," Isaak said.

Isaak further claimed that Baisako was out to put the party in a bad light because his dreams of becoming president of the DPN had been thwarted at the consultative meeting.

"None of the members supported his ambitions to become the president of DPN. It's no surprise that he is taking a hostile stance against the party," said Isaak.

Isaak claimed Baisako had walked out of the meeting before delegates accepted the final list of 42.

"He could have been second on the list, if he had not cold-shouldered the meeting," said Isaak.

He said nobody except Baisako had a problem with the candidates being nominated at the consultative meeting.

Isaak also claimed that Baisako had been recruited from the Swapo Party only after the formation of DPN.

Baisako said the party's scheduled congress at Mariental a week ago had to be called off at the last minute because delegates from all the regions, except Karas and Hardap, had failed to turn up.

The delegates were unable to attend the congress because of financial constraints, The Namibian was reliably informed.

Baisako claimed that some candidates "who have not broken their ties with the Swapo Party" are topping the list at the expense of those who founded the party a year ago.

Baisako is 14th on the list.

"I am one of the founding members, but am placed 14th on the list. How is it possible?" Baisako asked.
Baisako also claimed that delegates from regions other than Karas and Hardap had been deliberately excluded.
Hitting back, DPN Secretary General Adam Isaak claimed Baisako had been "planted by the Swapo Party to derail the party's progress".

"As of today Baisako should regard himself as being expelled from DPN. We'll soon inform him formally about his expulsion," Isaak said.

Isaak further claimed that Baisako was out to put the party in a bad light because his dreams of becoming president of the DPN had been thwarted at the consultative meeting.

"None of the members supported his ambitions to become the president of DPN. It's no surprise that he is taking a hostile stance against the party," said Isaak.

Isaak claimed Baisako had walked out of the meeting before delegates accepted the final list of 42.

"He could have been second on the list, if he had not cold-shouldered the meeting," said Isaak.

He said nobody except Baisako had a problem with the candidates being nominated at the consultative meeting.
Isaak also claimed that Baisako had been recruited from the Swapo Party only after the formation of DPN.

www.namibian.com.na