Windhoek High Court Strikes Off Swapo Eviction Application Against Former Combatants

Judge ruled the party's bid to remove protesters camped at its headquarters since October did not meet requirements for urgent hearing.

A Swapo application seeking to evict a group of people camped at the party's national headquarters in Windhoek was struck off the High Court roll on Thursday after Judge Gabriel Komboni found it did not meet the requirements to be heard as an urgent matter.¹²

The group, which has occupied the premises with tents since October last year, comprises individuals identifying as former freedom fighters who have been demanding answers about funds they claim were given to the party to assist exiled Namibians returning home before independence.² Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa stated in a sworn statement that the campers insisted they would remain until their demands were met or questions about financial assistance alleged to have been given for the repatriation of exiled Namibians in 1989 were answered.¹

The party had asked the court to declare the occupation of its premises and a pavement area at the headquarters unlawful and to order the removal of camping material.¹

The failed application has exposed internal divisions within Swapo. Former party secretary general Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, a member of the central committee, questioned the legitimacy of the decision to pursue legal action in a voice note shared on WhatsApp over the weekend.² She said such a move should have been decided by the party's central committee, not the politburo, which she described as an implementation body rather than a decision-making one.² "The central committee has never decided to take freedom fighters to court. Never. That issue was never brought before the central committee," she said.²