Who will switch on Windhoek’s Christmas lights?
Swapo head office to dictate councillor deployments
Swapo held a day-long politburo meeting yesterday to, among others, decide the deployments.
The race for the mayoral chain in Windhoek is heating up within Swapo, after the party instructed that no councillors elected on its ticket across the country may be deployed until head office gives the green light.
This directive is contained in a letter dated 27 November – a day after the elections – issued by Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa. Although the Swapo politburo met yesterday, the instruction to halt deployments was already formally communicated through the letter.
“As intended under Rule 49 of the Swapo Party rules and procedures for election of party office-bearers and party representatives at legislative and government levels, no deployment of party cadres to the regional councils and local authorities should take place until a directive in that regard is given by the office of the secretary general,” Shaningwa wrote.
The directive applies to both local authority and regional council deployments.
Swapo marginally reclaimed Windhoek in last week’s local authority elections, winning eight of the 15 seats. With opposition parties only managing seven, the ruling party is expected to control the mayor’s office and dominate the management committee for the next five years.
Deployments in Windhoek and other key local authorities were anticipated to feature prominently in yesterday’s politburo meeting chaired by party president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Who are the contenders?
The eight Swapo councillors elected to the Windhoek council are Sakaria Uunona, Albertina Amutenya, Matheus Shoongo, Fransina Kahungu, Demetreo Beukes, Toini Ambambi, Austin Kwenani and Queen Kamati.
Former mayors Fransina Kahungu – also secretary of the Swapo Party Women’s Council (SPWC) – and Queen Kamati are widely viewed as frontrunners. Their previous leadership experience and strong internal networks place them ahead of the rest of the pack.
Kahungu enjoys strong grassroots appeal, a key asset as Swapo attempts to rebuild its urban support base after losing Windhoek in 2020. In January 2020, she famously moved the mayor’s office to Babylon informal settlement to bring it closer to vulnerable communities.
Kamati, meanwhile, is seen as part of Swapo’s push to elevate competent young leaders. Her academic credentials – including a Bachelor of Business Management Honours and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing – strengthen her profile.
Internal dynamics
Incumbent councillor Austin Kwenani, who served on the management committee and chaired several sub-committees since 2020, is reportedly not interested in the mayoral position.
However, Sakaria Uunona, the party’s district coordinator for Windhoek West, is said to harbour mayoral ambitions. Some insiders argue that the new mayor should emerge from those with prior experience on the council, given the turbulence of the last five years.
“The party will direct who becomes mayor, now that we have gotten our majority back in council,” a senior Swapo figure said.
“There’s a lot of lobbying among those elected to become the mayor. But we don’t know what the politburo will decide.”
Concerns over councillor quality
Not everyone in the ruling party is impressed with the calibre of some councillors. A central committee member, speaking candidly yesterday, warned that Swapo risks undermining itself through weak local leadership.
“We are letting ourselves down. The list is a joke...” the member said.
Swapo’s deployment directive is expected soon, and with it, clarity on who will switch on Windhoek’s Christmas lights – and who will lead the capital for the next five years.
This directive is contained in a letter dated 27 November – a day after the elections – issued by Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa. Although the Swapo politburo met yesterday, the instruction to halt deployments was already formally communicated through the letter.
“As intended under Rule 49 of the Swapo Party rules and procedures for election of party office-bearers and party representatives at legislative and government levels, no deployment of party cadres to the regional councils and local authorities should take place until a directive in that regard is given by the office of the secretary general,” Shaningwa wrote.
The directive applies to both local authority and regional council deployments.
Swapo marginally reclaimed Windhoek in last week’s local authority elections, winning eight of the 15 seats. With opposition parties only managing seven, the ruling party is expected to control the mayor’s office and dominate the management committee for the next five years.
Deployments in Windhoek and other key local authorities were anticipated to feature prominently in yesterday’s politburo meeting chaired by party president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Who are the contenders?
The eight Swapo councillors elected to the Windhoek council are Sakaria Uunona, Albertina Amutenya, Matheus Shoongo, Fransina Kahungu, Demetreo Beukes, Toini Ambambi, Austin Kwenani and Queen Kamati.
Former mayors Fransina Kahungu – also secretary of the Swapo Party Women’s Council (SPWC) – and Queen Kamati are widely viewed as frontrunners. Their previous leadership experience and strong internal networks place them ahead of the rest of the pack.
Kahungu enjoys strong grassroots appeal, a key asset as Swapo attempts to rebuild its urban support base after losing Windhoek in 2020. In January 2020, she famously moved the mayor’s office to Babylon informal settlement to bring it closer to vulnerable communities.
Kamati, meanwhile, is seen as part of Swapo’s push to elevate competent young leaders. Her academic credentials – including a Bachelor of Business Management Honours and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing – strengthen her profile.
Internal dynamics
Incumbent councillor Austin Kwenani, who served on the management committee and chaired several sub-committees since 2020, is reportedly not interested in the mayoral position.
However, Sakaria Uunona, the party’s district coordinator for Windhoek West, is said to harbour mayoral ambitions. Some insiders argue that the new mayor should emerge from those with prior experience on the council, given the turbulence of the last five years.
“The party will direct who becomes mayor, now that we have gotten our majority back in council,” a senior Swapo figure said.
“There’s a lot of lobbying among those elected to become the mayor. But we don’t know what the politburo will decide.”
Concerns over councillor quality
Not everyone in the ruling party is impressed with the calibre of some councillors. A central committee member, speaking candidly yesterday, warned that Swapo risks undermining itself through weak local leadership.
“We are letting ourselves down. The list is a joke...” the member said.
Swapo’s deployment directive is expected soon, and with it, clarity on who will switch on Windhoek’s Christmas lights – and who will lead the capital for the next five years.
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