• SG accusses president of "gangsterism"
• President's anarchy prompted mass exodus of members
• President allegedly keeps NEFF cars for family use
• Mukwiilongo flatly denies allegations
   

By Stefanus Nashama

The Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) leader Epafras Mukwiilongo is at the centre of a brewing storm after allegedly physically assaulting party secretary general Festus Shaduva, when confronted on why he uses party cars as his family property.
The revelations follows Confidente’s receipt of audio recordings and a video in which a battered and visibly bruised Shaduva voices his frustration over Mukwiilongo’s conduct.
 

Shaduva says the altercation occurred on 31 July 2025 at Mukwiilongo’s business premises in Oshakati after he suggested that one car be assigned to the office of the secretary general to ease with the pressure associated with campaign logistics and party activities.
 

According to Shaduva, all NEFF vehicles are currently stationed at Elimi village in the Omusati region, where Mukwiilongo is from and are allegedly used for his “family’s benefit”. 
 

On Thursday, Shaduva told Confidente that: “Due to many party activities I carry out across regions, I requested that a car be stationed in Oshakati to make my work easier, but Mukwiilongo thought I was being stubborn and attacked me. We fought until people came to separate us,” narrated Shaduva. He added that the recording in Confidente’s possesion  were intended solely for 
Mukwiilongo and the party leadership, not for the media or the public.
 

“I made the recording specifically for him and the leadership to know that his behavior is not acceptable.”
Shaduva accused Mukwiilongo of “gangsterism” and a short temper, saying such conduct is unbecoming of a leader. 
“I call him a gangster because of his short temper. His behaviour is not befitting of someone holding an honourable title,” he said.
He also suggested their fallout may be linked to past tensions over the party’s sole parliamentary seat, which eventually went to deputy leader Kalimbo Iipumbu instead of Mukwiilongo.
 

“We started NEFF together with him, Kalimbo Iipumbu and Abraham Ndubu, but we accepted that he should go to parliament even though we knew he lacked understanding. We defended him because he is the party president.” He added that he was the one who supported the idea that, since the party had only won a single parliamentary seat, Iipumbu should take it due to his political influence and experience. 
 

“Mukwiilongo wanted to take the seat himself,” he claimed, adding that the leader “should move away from being an interpreter to being a leader.”
 

While Shaduva could not estimate how many members have left the party due to the president’s conduct, he cited the recent departure of influential member Jeremiah Kasume to the National Democratic Party (NDP) as an example. He expressed willingness to reconcile, but only if Mukwiilongo changed his behaviour and ensured the party’s leadership was functional. 
He added that he chose not to open a police case over the alleged assault, fearing it could harm the party’s reputation and “bring it to a natural death.” Mukwiilongo, for his part, denied assaulting Shaduva or using party vehicles for personal or family purposes.
“What are you talking about? Who is this person you claim I beat? I am currently at a cattle post, and I only speak to the secretary general over the phone. That is not someone from our party, these are just people trying to tarnish our name,” Mukwiilongo told Confidente.
 

He insisted there is no infighting within NEFF and that he holds no personal grievances against the secretary general. 
“Those are rumours, fake news. You can even call Iipumbu. Please, call the secretary general and ask him yourself,” he said before ending the call. Iipumbu said he had listened to the audio recordings and watched the video in which Shaduva claimed to have been assaulted. 
 

“I called him several times to confirm, but he did not answer. There is no dispute in the party about assets,” Iipumbu stated.
He acknowledged that Shaduva had once raised the issue of vehicles allocation but claimed he was denied one because he was intoxicated at the time.  “NEFF’s assets belong to the party, not to the president or his family,” he stressed.
“If Shaduva wants to leave the party, he should do it peacefully, not tarnish its image. Even in the beginning, some people left when they realised we did not secure enough parliamentary seats,” he said. 
“Why did not he open a police case if he was truly beaten?” Iipumbu explained that NEFF has a formal process for regional car requests, requiring leadership approval and a signed agreement. 
 

He urged Shaduva to “tell the truth and stop spreading fake news” about an assault.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time in Namibian politics where party members are accusing their leader of misusing funds of properties. In 2024 a breakaway group of the Christian Democratic Voice (CDV) fingered their former parlimentarian Gotthard Kandume for allegedly withdrawing N$180 000 from the party’s bank account, without following the proper channels.