!Nawases-Taeyele demands CC results be nullified

Swapo member Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele is challenging a decision taken at the just concluded Swapo Party congress to deny her to stand for the position of deputy secretary general, following a re-run in which incumbent Uahekua Herunga was elected.!Nawases-Taeyele claimed that she had not been given the opportunity to run by the congress’ returning officer, Joshua Kaumbi, saying, through her lawyer, Florian Beukes, that he had misinterpreted the party’s constitution.The re-run was ordered after none of the candidates – Herunga, David Hamutenya, and !Nawases-Taeyele – were able to obtain 51% of the vote.Kaumbi ordered a re-run between Hamutenya and Herunga, much to !Nawases-Taeyele’s chagrin and in what she argues is a contradiction of Swapo’s party rules and its constitution."We demand that the results of the re-run of the position of the deputy secretary general be declared null and void, and another re-run take place between the candidates with the highest votes, in keeping with the election rules," Beukes said in a letter to Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa.Party provisionsCiting the party’s constitution, Beukes said the relevant provisions of the Swapo Constitution and the Rules for the Election of Office Bearers, provide that, of the three candidates who will contest the positions of president, vice-president, secretary general, and deputy secretary general, at least one such candidate must be a woman.The rules provide that congress shall elect officials provided that during the election of the president, the vice-president, the secretary general and the deputy secretary general, the congress shall ensure that two of such positions are held by women, he added.Making a case for !Nawases-Taeyele, Beukes claimed the interpretation of the relevant constitutional provisions and the rules were misinterpreted by Kaumbi and the election committee, as they failed to give effect to the intended purpose of the drafters in consideration of our constitutional dispensation.!Nawases-Taeyele disadvantaged"Our client was not allowed the opportunity to stand for the re-run on the basis of the flawed interpretation despite having the second-highest votes. Should the rules be applied as is, our client was entitled to take part in the re-run alongside comrade Herunga," Beukes argued.!Nawases-Taeyele threatened legal action against the party should it not rectify the injustices she claims she has endured at the Kaumbi-led outcome."Should the Party not be amenable to rectifying the injustice suffered by our client, we hold instructions to institute legal proceedings on an urgent basis to declare the elections invalid and have it set aside," Beukes said.The party has been given until the end of business today to respond to the matter.Shaningwa did not respond to a request for comment.

!Nawases-Taeyele demands CC results be nullified

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-19

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!Nawases-Taeyele demands CC results be nullified

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-19

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