SWAPO Party member Reinhold Shipwikineni has issued an apology to the party following a High Court ruling.

The judgment dismissed his application, along with four others, which challenged SWAPO’s decision not to hold an extraordinary congress within three months of the late President Hage Geingob’s death.

The court found that the matter had become moot, as the congress had already taken place and the leadership position had been filled.

It further ordered the applicants to cover the legal costs of the respondents.

While accepting the court’s findings on the main matter, Shipwikineni noted that two reliefs sought by the party were dismissed.

These included an application to interdict him from making future statements about party leaders and a request for punitive legal costs against him.

He further argued that the court did not address legal costs related to those dismissed reliefs, but emphasised his respect for the judgment and his commitment to unity within the party.

Shipwikineni stressed that unity and peace within the party remain more valuable than internal divisions.

SWAPO Party’s Secretary for Information and Mobilisation, Hilma Nicanor, welcomed the court’s decision during a press briefing.

She pointed to the High Court’s judgment, which stated that there is nothing in the Party’s constitution indicating that an extraordinary congress held beyond the three-month period is invalid.

“The decisions taken at the extraordinary congress were not challenged. The case was moot and academic, given that the decisions taken at the extraordinary congress were not contested. The High Court additionally granted the party the orders it sought in a counter-application, to the effect that Mr Shipwikineni contravened the SWAPO Party’s constitution on 22 May 2023 when he released a statement claiming that he had suspended the party’s President, Dr Hage G. Geingob, and that he had assumed the position of the party’s President. The High Court also directed Mr Shipwikineni to retract such an announcement and to tender an unconditional apology to the SWAPO Party within seven court days of the order.” 

Shipwikineni also emphasised that the ruling highlights the high cost of democracy and ensures that members’ rights to voice concerns are not entirely curtailed.