22 northern Swapo councillors axed
Old guard shown exit door
A total of 22 constituency councillors serving on the Swapo ticket in the four northern regions will not be contesting the upcoming November regional council elections, after an overwhelming majority failed to survive the party’s elective primaries.
In Oshana, five incumbents fell by the wayside. They are Edmund Iishuwa of Okatana Constituency, Joseph Mupetami of Okatyali, Andreas Uutoni of Ongwediva, Aram Martin of Oshakati West, and David Filipus of Okaku. Iishuwa, however, passed away last week.
In Oshikoto, all six sitting councillors were ousted. They are Gottlieb Ndjendjela of Tsumeb, Hans Nambondi of Okankolo, Gideon Shikomba of Onyaanya, Samuel Shivute of Omuthiya, Josef Shilongo of Nehale lyaMpingana and Phillemon Ndjambula of Olukonda.
Swapo’s Ohangwena regional coordinator Phillemon Josua confirmed that Ferdinand Shifidi of Endola, Erikan Hainghumbi of Engela, Lonia Kaishungu of Oshikunde, Mateus Shikongo of Ongenga, Johannes Hakanyome of Ohangwena and Festus Ikanda of Omundaungilo all failed to make it through the primaries.
Josua added that all disputes arising from the candidate selection process were resolved internally and that preparations for campaigning are on track.
In Omusati, five current councillors will also not contest in November. They are Andreas Shintama of Ruacana, Johaness Iiyambo of Ontamanzi, Gerhard Shiimi of Elim, Tylves Angala of Anamulenga, and Immanuel Shikongo of Outapi.
Shikongo was recently appointed by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as Omusati governor. As a result, a by-election was held yesterday in Outapi, where Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) candidate Fillemon Shikomba faced off against Swapo’s Selma Asino.
‘A sign of change’
Observers say the unprecedented number of sitting councillors failing to return points to shifting attitudes at grassroots level. Some believe it reflects disillusionment with incumbents’ performance, while others argue it signals the need for renewal in leadership.
For instance, Okatyali’s Mupetami has served as councillor since 1998.
Political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah told Namibian Sun yesterday that the high number of councillors losing out in Swapo primaries indicates growing dissatisfaction over service delivery.
“It’s quite a high number, especially for Swapo, which was used to retaining its councillors. This shows a shift in perception towards service delivery,” Kamwanyah said.
“If you have been in power and people were not seeing service delivery, this is what can happen. It’s a strong message to the party that things are no longer the same. In the past, once elected as councillor, you were almost guaranteed two or three terms.”
He further pointed to the surge of independent candidates – many of them former or current Swapo members – particularly in Kavango East, as further evidence of discontent.
“Most of these independent candidates are Swapo members, and what they are saying is that they want to bring change to their fellow community members,” he added.
In Oshana, five incumbents fell by the wayside. They are Edmund Iishuwa of Okatana Constituency, Joseph Mupetami of Okatyali, Andreas Uutoni of Ongwediva, Aram Martin of Oshakati West, and David Filipus of Okaku. Iishuwa, however, passed away last week.
In Oshikoto, all six sitting councillors were ousted. They are Gottlieb Ndjendjela of Tsumeb, Hans Nambondi of Okankolo, Gideon Shikomba of Onyaanya, Samuel Shivute of Omuthiya, Josef Shilongo of Nehale lyaMpingana and Phillemon Ndjambula of Olukonda.
Swapo’s Ohangwena regional coordinator Phillemon Josua confirmed that Ferdinand Shifidi of Endola, Erikan Hainghumbi of Engela, Lonia Kaishungu of Oshikunde, Mateus Shikongo of Ongenga, Johannes Hakanyome of Ohangwena and Festus Ikanda of Omundaungilo all failed to make it through the primaries.
Josua added that all disputes arising from the candidate selection process were resolved internally and that preparations for campaigning are on track.
In Omusati, five current councillors will also not contest in November. They are Andreas Shintama of Ruacana, Johaness Iiyambo of Ontamanzi, Gerhard Shiimi of Elim, Tylves Angala of Anamulenga, and Immanuel Shikongo of Outapi.
Shikongo was recently appointed by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as Omusati governor. As a result, a by-election was held yesterday in Outapi, where Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) candidate Fillemon Shikomba faced off against Swapo’s Selma Asino.
‘A sign of change’
Observers say the unprecedented number of sitting councillors failing to return points to shifting attitudes at grassroots level. Some believe it reflects disillusionment with incumbents’ performance, while others argue it signals the need for renewal in leadership.
For instance, Okatyali’s Mupetami has served as councillor since 1998.
Political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah told Namibian Sun yesterday that the high number of councillors losing out in Swapo primaries indicates growing dissatisfaction over service delivery.
“It’s quite a high number, especially for Swapo, which was used to retaining its councillors. This shows a shift in perception towards service delivery,” Kamwanyah said.
“If you have been in power and people were not seeing service delivery, this is what can happen. It’s a strong message to the party that things are no longer the same. In the past, once elected as councillor, you were almost guaranteed two or three terms.”
He further pointed to the surge of independent candidates – many of them former or current Swapo members – particularly in Kavango East, as further evidence of discontent.
“Most of these independent candidates are Swapo members, and what they are saying is that they want to bring change to their fellow community members,” he added.
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