Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Timo Shihepo
Published on 2024-04-02 17:00:00
SWAPO secretary general Sophia Shaningwa recently provided an update on the construction progress of the party’s national headquarters, stating that it is nearing completion. This announcement comes in response to a report published in The Namibian last week, which highlighted issues with the project, including a halt in construction due to unpaid bills totaling over N$100 million.
Despite Shaningwa’s assurance of the project’s nearing completion, a conflicting report was presented by the Swapo politburo at a central committee meeting earlier this month. The politburo report acknowledged the party’s financial struggles in finalizing the headquarters project, indicating a precarious financial position. Shaningwa, a member of the politburo, did not provide a specific timeline for the completion of the building in her statement.
The construction company responsible for building the headquarters, Unik Construction Engineering, reportedly ceased work last year after Swapo failed to settle its outstanding bills. Shaningwa did not comment on this report until recently, when she refuted the claims and described the headline as sensational and misleading. She stated that the party was not aware of any issues with the construction, emphasizing that the contractor had not raised any complaints regarding contractual breaches.
Sources revealed that Unik Construction Engineering employees confirmed the stoppage of construction activities, with only minor work resuming in December 2023. The reluctance of the company to disclose details publicly was attributed to fears of potential repercussions. To address the outstanding payment issues, Swapo allegedly utilized one of its entities to secure a loan from a local bank, estimated to be between N$110 million and N$180 million. Part of this loan was reportedly used to settle the debt with Unik Construction Engineering.
Shaningwa emphasized that Swapo is committed to fulfilling its contractual obligations and adheres to the laws of the Republic of Namibia. The initial cost of the project, estimated at N$900 million, has escalated to over N$1 billion due to various factors.
Despite the challenges faced during the construction of the national headquarters, Shaningwa’s recent statement aimed to reassure party members and the public that progress is being made towards completing the project. The controversy surrounding unpaid bills and halted construction activities underscore the financial strains experienced by Swapo in its efforts to establish a new headquarters for the party.
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Read the original article on The Namibian
