Jealous Kafu KaNamibia Told He Is ‘Confused Like a Cockroach’ After Calling Kavango People’s Forum a Scam
By TUW
Simuku Karembera, also known as Kafu KaNamibia, a SWAPO member from Nkurenkuru, has come under criticism after describing the Kavango People’s Forum as a “scam” in a WhatsApp audio recording.
In the audio obtained by The Updated World, Karembera questions the forum’s request for financial donations from members of the public, arguing that the process does not follow what he believes to be the correct procedure.
According to him, organisations should first register members and issue membership cards before asking people to contribute financially.
“You are sending bank account numbers in groups asking Kavango people to donate money because they are voting cows,” Karembera said in the audio.
“How things must be done in the right way is that people have to register first and become members and receive membership cards, just like we do in SWAPO where we pay N$35 per year. But if you are just sending account numbers for people to donate without signing or having proof, that is a scam,” he said.
Karembera also criticised some individuals associated with the forum, including one of the announced speakers for an upcoming event, Professor Joseph Diescho, saying he does not hesitate to speak out regardless of a person’s academic status.
This drama comes after a recent event hosted by the Muzokumwe Volunteer Organisation, where keynote speaker Professor Joseph Diescho and some attendees raised concerns about jealousy among Kavango people. During the event, they said jealousy among Kavango people is destroying their own progress and that people often become enemies of their own development.
However, organisers of the Kavango People’s Forum have strongly rejected the allegations and clarified that the forum is not a political party, but an open platform created by residents of the Kavango East and Kavango West regions.
The platform aims to bring together people from the two regions to share knowledge, discuss development matters and raise awareness about issues affecting local communities. Organisers say the forum is fully registered with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) and operates with a registered bank account.
What is the Kavango People’s Forum?
According to information shared by the organisers, the Kavango People’s Forum is a community platform that promotes peace, unity and development among the people of the Kavango East and Kavango West regions. The forum encourages open discussions, knowledge sharing and community participation on issues affecting the social and economic development of the Kavango regions and Namibia at large.
Responding to the remarks, Patrick Shiyemo Kashera, Chairperson of the Kavango People’s Forum, said the allegations made by Karembera are unfounded and based on a misunderstanding of how donations work.
Kashera explained that the forum openly requests voluntary donations to support its operational activities in serving the interests of the Kavango people and Namibia in general.
“A scam involves deception, fraud or misrepresentation to unlawfully obtain money from the public. In contrast, a legitimate donation is a voluntary contribution made transparently to support the lawful activities of an organisation,” Kashera said.
He added that there is nothing unlawful about requesting donations for a registered organisation that operates transparently.
Kashera also criticised what he described as baseless accusations and urged Karembera to engage constructively rather than making public claims without evidence. He further called on him to apologise to Professor Joseph Diescho for the remarks directed at him.
Meanwhile, in other WhatsApp audio responses obtained by The Updated World, several Kavango leaders and professionals came out in defence of the forum. They emphasised that the initiative is meant to serve the people of Kavango and Namibia at large by encouraging open discussions about development and community issues.
In one of the recordings, a speaker criticised Kafu KaNamibia’s remarks and described him as “confused like a cockroach,” suggesting that he misunderstood the purpose of the forum.
Observers also noted that in the audio, Karembera repeatedly referred to the Kavango People’s Forum as if it were a political organisation, which organisers say is incorrect since the forum is an open civic platform.
The Kavango People’s Forum is expected to host an event on 28 March 2026, where several prominent figures will address participants. The event will feature keynote contributions from Professor Joseph Diescho, Peter Nanyemba, Paulus Shamate, among others.
