CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL Report on the Political Activities of Mburumba Kerina December, 1966. Mburumba-Kerina: Who is He? Mburumbe Kerin& is thought to have been born around 1930-1932 in of mixed German-Herero parentage as Erich William Getzen. No other information is available to this writer on his background until 1952 when Kerina is accused of having been a police informer. This charge was made ten years later by JariretunduKozongwizi, a consistent long-term critic. of Kerina, who alleged that at the time when Kerina was attempting to secure a passport from the South African Government "it was Getzen who had 'revealed' to-the Special Branch that the petitions of Chief Kutako were drawn by Berthold Himumuine and Clement Kapuuo; this was learned later from an African detective who was present at his 'interrogation. " Kozongwi i stated in 1962 that he and Charles Kauraisa confronted Kerina with this report to which Kerina reportedly replied, "The conditions w re then different."' (It has been definitely confirmed that neither Himumuine nor Kapuuo drew up any petitions for Chief Kutako in this early period.) By whatever means, Kerina in 1952 was granted a passport to become the first non-white from South West Africa to travel to the United States in recent times. A number of prominent whites including Mr. Jungen Meinert, Mrs. John Meinart and Mrs. Harriet Harries attended a ceremony at the Windhoek Airport on the occasion of his departure, according to Kozongwizi.2 Another source identifies some of those attending as "prominent official members of the white conmunity."3 Kozongwizi refers to a press account of the meeting as stating, lj. Konzongwizi, "Differences Between SWANU and SWAPO," a typed memorandum dated June, 1962, p. 8. This charge does not appear elsewhere in available material critical of Kerina nor is it answered by -Kerina in such material. 2Konzongwizi, p. 7. 3Usigned, undated, confidential memorandum entitled "The Problem of Mburumba Kerina, alias Erich Getzen," p. 3. Although this memorandum is a questionable source because of its anonymity and lack of documentation, and while it is generally hostile to Kerina, it is relatively restrained, fairly objective in tone, and consistent with other sources.

Page 2 "He condemned those who went overseas and spread false propaganda. 'The Government, Dr. Malan, Dr. Donges cannot be as bad as is made out; otherwise they would not have given me sy passport . .,' he said.,,I Kozongwizi who was present as chairman of the meeting confirmed the accuracy of this press account.2 On his arrival in New York Kerina reportedly attempted to identify himself with anti-apartheid circles but these were "suspicious" of his intentions. He entered Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in January, 1953. While a student he is said to have "felt himself to be the equal if not the superior of Nkrumah and other African leaders, and compared himself to Napoleon and to other great historical figures."'3 One source states that academically he "did poorly''4 while another states that he received no degree.5 Kerina does not defend himself at this point in available materials, but Lincoln University records state that he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957.6 In 1955 Kerina is quoted as allegedly stating that in view of his mixed parentage he was in a position to "go either with the Europeans or else with the Africans" depending upon who treated him best. By 1957 he is said to have dropped the name Getzen completely.7 Kerina generally uses the title of "doctor" which, according to one 1 Kozongwizi quoting "The Windhoek Advertiser," December 5, 1952. 2Kozongvizi, op. cit., p. 7. 3"The Problem of M. Kerina . .," p. 3. 4lbid. 5Ewald Katjivena, "Kerina, A Case History of Neurotism," an article appearing in "Solidarity," a SWAPO publication dated Nov.-Dec. 1965, p. 5. This source is hostile to Kerina. 6Verbal communication from the registrar, Lincoln University, 1966. 7"The Problem of M. Kerina . . .," pp. 2, 3.

Page 3 source,' he "assumed" and according to another,2 was bestowed as an award for "meritous and persistent devotion to the struggle of the Afro-Asian peoples" by a political body in Indonesia in 1962. Kerina does not clarify its origin but in any case it apparently is not an earned academic degree - Katjivena states that the news of the degree was conveyed from Kerina by telegram to a group of South West Africa students in the United States who were 'told to herald the event to "every living South West African" and to use this title henceforth. The students' reaction was described as one of amusement and questioning, "What's old Kerina up to this time?",3 At an undetermined point Kerina is known to have married a United States citizen identified in available sources only as Jane. It is understood they have two children. Kerina: Organizer of Political Parties Kerina assumed his first position with a political movement in 1956 while still a student when he joined the Reverend Michael Scott as a UN petitioner on behalf of the South West Africa Student Body.4 Ovamboland Peopies 'Organization (O.P.O.) This body, based on the Ovambo Tribe on the northern part of South West Africa, was organized in 1959 with Sam Numoma as president, and Kerina filed UN petitions on its behalf that year. When SWANU was organized later that year as a comprehensive nationalist movement Kerina chose not to join it because "it was l"The Problem of M. Kerina * . ,"pp. 2, 3. Katjive , op. cit., p. 6. 3"The Problem of M. Kerina . .., p. 1. 4Ruth First, South est Africa, Penguin Books, Baltimore, 1963, p. 200.

Page 4 formed in my absence" and he was "ignorant" of its constitution and programme.1 Apparently instead of seeking information on the new party whichl was endeavoring generally to establish a national rather than tribalistic approach to colonialism, a dream consistently espoused by himself, Kerina without delay wrote to two O.P.O. leaders who had joined SWANU and were on its execut in the interest of national unity and the success of our struggle ... to transform the existing organization O.P.O. into a non-tribal party instead of joining the new organization SWANU f1. S.W.A.P.O. S.W.A.P.0. was formed in June 1960 out of elements of O.P.O. and the Chiefs Council with Kerina playing a key role in its formation. According to Kozongwizi, Kerina "appointed himself chairman."3 Numerous petitions were presented to the U. N. Committee on Colonialism by Kerina as chairman of SWAPO and a series of charges and countercharges ensued between SWANU and SWAPO during his. tenure. In November 1963 the National Executive of SWAPO removed him from his office as chairman and from membership reportedly because "Dr. Kerina has consistently shown that he has become unworthy and a disgrace to the membership of SWAPO .. Kerina denies this version vaguely stating that he "resigned" because of "questions of policy."5 Nujoma was president at the time . The same source that states that Kerina immediately mounted a campaign to secure a new 1. M. Kerina, "Kozongwizi Let Us Compete in Serving Our People and Not in Character Assassination," a mimeographed memo published in Dar-es-Salaam, Jan.'65,p.3. 2. Op. Cit. p. 2 3. Kozongwizi, p. 9 4. J. Kozongwizi, "On the South West Africa Liberation Front," a mimeographed memorandum issued in Dec. 1963, pp. 1, 2, quoting a SWAPO Executive Committee report signed by party Secretary-General I. Fortune. 5. Kerina, "Kozongwizi Let Us . , p. 4.

Page 5 executive with N. Naxniriri as president, himself as chairman, and J. Ja Otto i as secretary-general. This effort was unsuccessful. At about the same time SWANU and SWAPO formed the S.W.A. Liberation Fr_9nt (SWANLIFF1.t which three other smaller bodies pledged support. Its purpose was coordination rather than merger. The two major consitutent party executive agreed that Kerina would be barred from participation. Only after Kerina had been removed was it possible for the two bodies to move toward establishing a more 2 unified approach to S. W. A. liberation. In a later U. N. petition , as an effort to minimize SWANLIF, Kerina informed the Committee on Colonialism that this body was dissolved 2 - 3 weeks after it was formed. However, a representative of the U. N. Secretary-General while visiting Bechuanaland some six months later pointed out the SWANLIF refugee scholarship program (whereby prospective students were channeled out of S. W. A. into E. Africa and to European and other countries) as an example of efficient organization and planning in sharp contrast to Kerina's own unsuccessful efforts to establish a parallel program.3 During the latter part of the period in which Kerina was SWAPO chairman apparently he was alsd a member of the staff of the Liberian mission to the U.N. During this period he leveled unsubstantiated charges against certain secretariat members, a matter discussed later in this report. Presumably the discredit arising from 1. Rib.., pp. 2, 3 2. U. N. Document A/AC.109/PET. 371, P. 7. 3. U. N. Document A/AC.109/L. 118, Annex, pp. 2-4...

Page 6 this episode and his removal from SWAPO influenced him to leave New York for an extended period. His activities at this point are not clear and the following paragraph is a condensation from one source which is hostile to Kerina. It is very difficult to appraise the authenticity of some of the details. Presumably around the beginning of 1964 Kerina reportedly announced that he was flying back to S. W. A., put his family on a plane bound for West Africa only to return from Idlewild Airport alone at night with the explanation that two S. African Special Branch agents had followed him to the airport to assasinate him. A short time later he is saidtohweleft the Liberian mission post without due notice and went to Bechuanaland, secured employment with the U. S. Peace Corps, then moved into Serestse Khama's election campaign as an "advisor." He allegedly held clandestine meetings with the opposition conveying "inside information" to them and secretly campaigned against Khama. Subsequently he was dropped by Khama and went openly to the opposition. N. A. C. I. P. Kerina next turned his attention back to S. W. A. and from his Bechuanaland base proceeded in June 1964 to organize a new political party, the National this party" U. N. I. P. P. N. A. C. I. P. lasted only a matter of weeks whereupon Kerina merged it into another party, the National Convention Independence Party, also based in Bechuanaland. 1. Katjivena, p. 6. 2. Ibid. Page 7 In looking back almost a year later Kerina partially- agreesl .with his'. critics about N.A.C.I.P. and U.N,I.P.P. when he stated that both were suggestions Z-for party names _7 and never existed as parties.'' However, it is quite clear that first N.A.C.I.P. and subsequently U.N.I.P.P. were represented as formal existing political parties to the United Nations when petitions bearing Kerins's signature as Chairman and Chief Kutako's as "Honorary President" were filed with the Committee on Colonialism in the June-September period of 1964. One was fi1ed 2 on behalf of N.A.C.I.P. and three on behalf of U.N.I.P.P. Kerina stated later that one of the latter groups was forged by the South African Police, and its content indicates that this may well be the case, but he does not deny the validity 4 of the other three petitions. In a still later petition Kerina mentions the formation of U.N.I.P.P. at a meeting in S. W. A. in May, 1964. N. U. D. 0.The National Unity DemocratiC: Organization (NUDO) was formed at a "National Convention of the People of Namib" held in S. W. A. in September, 1964. This convention was purported to represent the climaxof-a long strggle for unity for all of the people of the country w4ith SWANU and SWAPO as the "only reluctant elements." t1Kerina it lsa been "popularly" tbd Cairman ad Chief Kutako as "Party -O6A b f p he'4"r4t fMd i,6'withe U. N. under Kerina's name throughout 1965. Chief Kutako was identified as Party Leader to most of these. 1. Kerina, "Kozongwizi Let us . . . , p. 3. 2. U. N. Document A/AC. 109/PE. 279 3. U. N. Document A/AC. 109/PET. 279/Add. 1. U. N. Document A/AC. 109/PET. 279/Add. 2. U. N. Document A/AC. 109/PET. 279/Add. 3 4. Kerina, "Kozongwizi Let Us ...., p. 4., 5. U. N. Document A/AC. 109/PET. 371, 1I, pp. 8, 9 6. Ibid., p. 9_

Page 8 S. W. A. N. U. F. In January of 1966 the South West Africa National United Front was organized purportedly "uniting" N.U.D.O., S.W.A.N.U., the S.W.A. United National Independence Organization (SWAUNIO) and a trade union, the S.W.A. Workers Union (SWAWU). In a petition on behalf of this body from New York, Kerina identified himself as Coordinating Secretary.1 N. Mbaeva was identified as Financial Secretary and, as SWANU representative at the U. N., presumably had attempted to commit SWANU to the merger. John Ja Otto, Acting Secretary-General of SWAPO, criticized this as "still another fictitious political party" going on to state, "not even the leader Hon. Chief nor the deputy leader Captain Witbooi and the president Mr. C. Kapuuo or the deputy president Mr. A. Louw of SWANUF were aware of the formation of SWANUF . . . Why was NIP, NACIP, UNIPP, and NUDO dissolved. Because 2 it lacked support and like SWANUF was a party in name only. The External Council of SWANU including the party chairman next petitioned the.U.N. that SWM9# "is not and never was a party to the said 'Front.'3 Mbaeva was subsequently suspended from party activities by the party's National Executive for, among other things, having gone "beyond the mandate entrusted to him. In summary, Kerina has been instrumental in organizing a series of five political parties over the past six years, four of them in the past two and h half years. Aside from SWAPO each has merged into its successor in an effort to secure 1. U. N. Document A/AC. 1og/PET. 474 2. U. N. Document A/AC. 09/PET. 434/Add. 1, p. 2. 3. U. N. Document A/AC. 109/PET. 457/Add. 1, p. a. 4. U. N. Document Communication No. 1227, p. 2.

Page 9' an elusive "national-.unity"' -of liberation movements. Kerina has always 'appearted" as chairman, and Chief Kutako as president -or "leadei." It is impossible fromthe available .-sourcea. to ascertain which. of.these later bodies held or held- i ny ,significant mass following in S. W. A., but it appears unlikely that any were successful in this i espectwith some question remaining about NUDO. Needless to say, the procession of parties in these past months has had the' effect of confusing .many of those outside of S. W. A., who are concerned about the liberation of the, people of that country. In connection with these activities, Kerina has reportedly been excluded from .entry into three 'African States and the need remains to asertain the grounds for this exclusion...Allegations Against U. N. Secretariat Kerina as a petitioner made serious allegations in 1962, accusing three Secretariat members of political partiality in handling a press release reportedly made from'Pretoria in May of that year on behalf of the Special Committee for S. W. A. The consequent controversy resulted in the Secretary-General appointing a special committee to investigate the matter, which committee received testimony from Kerina. However, to use the words of the Director of Personnel he '"declined to support the allegations and refused to answer any questions of the Committee. It was also indicated to the Committee that other petitioners for S. W. A., did not agree with or associate themselves with the allegations . . ' The Director further reported, "The Secretary-General has come to the clear conclusion that the staff members concerned acted throughout in good faith ... and that the allegations against the staff members were not well founded and that, from his point of view, the matter is closed."1 These charges which Kerina had made but refused to substantiate consumed the time and attention of the special investigating committee and the Secretary1. -U. N. Document ST/ADM/SER. 'A/837 " ' .. ..

Page 10 General over a period of six months. It was nine months before the Director of Personnel was in a position to finally clear the staff members concerned thus removing the cloud of suspicion under which they had been for this period. Kerina and the American Metal Climax Corp. J. Kozongwizi in a June, 1962 memorandum charges that he had discovered "documentary evidence of links" between Kerina and this corporation which owns a large share in a major S. W. A. mining enterprize, the Corporation. These "links" were alleged to constitute a campaign to brand Kozongwizi and SWANU as "communist" and '!not firendly to the U. S." Presumably Kerina was SWAPO chairman ,at the time. Specifically, Kozongwizi asserts that Kerina secured a recording of the former's U. N. petition in which the Climax Corporation was criticized and Kerina threatened to use it to undermine the position of two SWANU students studying on Corporation supported bursaries. 1 No other specific charges are made supporting this alleged link. Kerina does not answer this allegation in any of the materials available. However, the materials do include a copy of a letter from Kerina to an official of Climax in December, 1960 requesting $1,500 assistance for S. W. A. petitioners at the U. N. The Corporation refused to grant this assistance and in reply, Kerina, according to the official, stated, " . I think it will be of interest to you to know that not very long in the near future when negotiations will be conducted by the representatives of our country and your company, your letter will be among the things that will mold the attitude of our people toward your company's presence in our country." He then quotes Kerina with making implied threats of nationalization of industry as had happened "in countries such as U.A.R. Guines and Ghana3 1. Kozongwizi, "Differences between SWANU and SWAPO,, p. 8 2. M. Kerina, personal correspondence to Taylor Ostrander, i4 Dec. 1960 3. T. Ostrander, personal correspondence to unnamed person,- 31 May, 1961

Page 11 ..The allegation of "links" between Kerina iand Climax may be valid and Kerina may have, intended to use them to the detriment of SWANU members, but the relationship apparently was a strained one in the period in question. In the. absence of more corroborative material it is difficult to evaluate the validity of this allegation., Kerina and the 154 Bechuanaland Refugees According to a U. N. Secretariat report, in March, 1964 a body of 154 men crossed the border from S. W. A. into Bechuanaland at Makunda where they were met by Kerina. Sixteen were "councillors" of Chief Hosea Kutako. Each person stated that they were seeking U. N. bursaries and asked to be allowed to pass on to Liberia or Ethiopia. Few had any funds with the exception of the leader who had 300, none had documentary evidence of having been awarded a bursary nor evidence that any government would allow them transition or entry at their destinations. They were, therefore, restricted to the area by the authorities until the matter could be sorted out. These persons were scarcely qualified for the U. N. scholarship pro-. gram for S. W. A. students which was designed to facilitate secondary and higher education. Less than one per cent were considered suited for even the most elementary forms of education and a score were 40 -,50 or more years of age. Only one or two were of normal scholar, age. The group slept out in the Open, some with blankets. They were fed by local villagers but, because of their number, after 55 days they became too great a burden and the villagers stated 2 that they could not continue to render assistance. 1. U. N. Document A/AC. 109/L. 118, Annex, p. 1 *2. Ibid., pp. 1,2.

Page 12 Kerina appeared to be responsible for the presence of these refugees and sent several petitions to the U. N. asking intercession with Great Britain so as to permit them to proceed.1 It is understood that eventually the group disintegrated and most members returned to S. W. A. in small parties. The insistence of the Bechuanaland authorities on documentary proof of acceptability in the countries of transit and destination and the means of transportation are accepted immigration procedures in most countries throughout the world. In sharp contrast to this group, the U. N. Secretariat member reported that a smaller body of sixteen S. W. A. citizens arrived in the same area at about the same time with the same goal in mind. However, this body had evidence of acceptability for study abroad, funds for fares, were an average of 20 years old, possessed higher standards of education and revealed clear ideas as to their goals in study. Nine were SWAPO and SWANU members and were met by a representative of SWANLIF in which both parties were participating in what was described as a well organized refugee-student program. These posed no burden to local villagers, paid for their own food and moved on after a short stay. This program was described as exemplary by the Secretariat member.2 This episode lasted from March, 1964, until at least October of that year when some of the group were still endeavoring to travel through Bechuanaland, a period of approximately eight months. During this period petitions were filed with the U. N., with the Chief Government Secretary in Bechuanaland, legal proceedings were instituted in an effort to secure the freedom of the group or members of it to proceed through the country, and a personal representative of the U. N. Secretary-General spent a period of time in the area interviewing each of the 154. It is not known if in addition the U. N., became involved as an 1. U. N. Documents A/AC. 109/PET. 279/Add. 2 and Add. 4; A/AC. 109/ PET. 371. 2. U. N. Documents A/AC. 109/L. 118, Annex, pp. 2-4. Page 13 intermediary with the British Government in this matter as was requested.1 'It is ,evident that a considerable amount of time and s'ehergy was consumed in an effort to salvage this inadequately planned "program -and much human suffering was needlessly experienced by the i54 persis 'involved. A much more serious result of this successin o0f events ha een the reduction in the number of applications for UN scholarships from South West' Africa in 1965'and 1966. Apparently the 'experience of."the 154':disillusioned prospective students -has become known' throughout the country and virtually no applications. are now being received by the ,U from qualified or unqualified students. This in turn has jeopardized the entire UN scholarship prgram for South West Africa ,and there is a possibility that the unused portion of the $50,000 may soon revert to a, general fund. .Kerina's U'nwarranted" Use of Name s' In 1966, J. Kozongwizi of SW . stated that Kerina had earlier used Han Beuke's name on SWAPO letterheads identifying him as a member of the National Executive of the latter, party!. --'Ks late as December, 1961, Beukes denied being either a member of the party or of its executive. J . J Otto of SWAPO in January, 1966, writing from Windhoek: about the formation of Kerina's SWANOF which had been launched. from New York, charged' that three persons in South West Africa listed by Kerina a.' officials of the new party were 'unaware of itt%formation. Thesewere Chief Kutako,- "Iesder"; Captain Witbooi, "Deputy Leader" and C. Kapuuo, "President". He questioned-whether any of the other 22 executives were "consulted before M. Kerina so lavishly'allocated their party executive posts to them'from New York without 'their knowledge?" ' 'Documentation for'this paragraph is found in UN Documents A/AC. 109/PET. 279/Add. 2; A/AC.109/L. .18; A/AC. 109/PET. 279; A/AC. 109/PET. 27 /Add. 4; A/AC. 109/PET. 371; and A/AC/109/PET. 5 71/Add., . 2Kozongwizi, "Differences between SWANU andSWAPO" memorandum. 3U.N.Document A/AC. 109/PET. 434/Add. 1, p. 2.

Page 14 In reply to this allegation Kerina avoided answering the specific charges and stated that it is unnecessary "to catalogue the heroic role of our colleagues and elders such as Chief Hosea Kutako ... and the others named ." Kerina then launched an attack on Ja Otto accusing him of being a South Africa police i informer, etc. In September, 1966 Ja Otto charged that Kerina, then chairman of SWAPO, forged in 1961 the name of Kozongwizi, then SWANU president, to a document which purported to unite SWANU and SWAP&2. This charge is substantiated verbally by a reliable independent source. E. Katjivena, writing in a SWAPO publication in late 1965 states that at the time of writing Kerina, acting as NUDO chairman, was "...writing letters f7om outside South West Afric) on which signatures of chiefs and other persons in South West Africa are forged."3 In September, 1966, Kerina and Mbeeva sent a petition to the U.N. Committee of Twenty Four on behalf of SWANUF which contained a copy of a letter published in the '"indhock Advertiser" earlier in the year. This letter was purportedly written by Louis Nelegani, vice-president of SWAPO, from Dar- esSalaam and constitutes an effort to smear SWAPO leadership publically. The writer alleges that President diverted L 300 in party funds to his family at a time when the party was low in finances and that when Nelegani complained of this to another party official, Kuhangua, the latter "fighted me and stabbed him with a knizfe /sic . He is now seriously in hospital and I am in jail." In a footnote under the copy, Kerina and Mbaeva took IU.N. Documentr A/AC. log/PET. 474, p. 7. 2U.N. Document A/AC. 109/PET. 434, Add. 13, P. 2. Skatjivena, p. 8.

Page 15 pains to highlight those elements of the letter' that are more critical of SWAPO.I Obviously. tbe :key person involved 'in this case' IsNelegani. In a letter to the "Advertiser" he denied that. hew wrote such a: letter or that he had 'been in .Jail in Dar-es-Salaam. _-Subsequently a' check was made in Dar-es-"Salaam and there is no record of Nelegani having been placed in Jail there at any time. The United Nations Committee has not received from Kerins or Mbaeva a copy of this second letter to the "Advertiser" nor any communication amending or clarifying their earlier petition regarding Nelegani. *Actions Compromising the U.N. SecretariateIt is reported on good authority that- when the U.N. official who investigated the plight of' the '154 South West African re iagees in Bechuanaland in 1964 was at' the point of departing from the 'country, Kerina approached-him with a -request .that he deliver a letter to a high government official in Tanzania for him. Without realizing the possible implications, the official pocketed the letter in. good faith and left'the country. Upon arrival at.Salisbury Airport he was met by'*Rhodesianspecial branch authorities who stated that they had information that he was in possession of, subversive material inan envel a search. When the letter was discovered, augeration of a sitive inf would

Page 16 There have been additional complaints from U.N. Secretariat members that Kerina has requested assistance from them which would have taken them beyond their proper functions. At some time after their refusal these members were accused of actions which they felt were vindictive and stemmed from their refusal of requested favors. Character Assassination Kerina has indulged in character assassination against those criticizing him as evidenced by his April 6 and July 12, 1966 petitions on behalf of SWAJUF. In seeking to refute charges made against him by John Ja Otto, Acting SecretaryGeneral of SWAPO, Kerina refers to him as a "well-known informer of the South African Government's Special Branch'in South West Africa."1 In the July petition he went beyond this- llegation of being an informer when he referred to the South African Government as "employing such persons as John Ja Otto to perform their dirty work. 2 These allegations stand in contrast to a Reuters dispatch from Pretoria of December 2, 1966 stating that Mr. Ja Otto along with other officials of SWAPO had been arrested by the South African Government under an extension to South West Africa of the unism Act .