Axe falls on Swapo councillors

Swapo has resolved to recall all six of its councillors serving on the Oshakati town council for failing to toe the party line.

The councillors defied Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa, who had wanted specific changes to be effected during the annual office-bearers' elections.

Swapo specifically wanted former mayor Onesimus Shilunga to chair the powerful management committee and to replace the long-serving Gabriel Kamwanka.

However, the councillors opted to elect former mayor Katrina Shimbulu as management committee chairperson ahead of Shilunga, who became an ordinary member of the committee. Angelus Iiyambo was retained as mayor, while Ndamononghenda Hamunjela and Louise Shivolo all became members of the management committee.

PDM councillor Linus Tobias and Kamwanka were confirmed as the two ordinary councillors. Shaningwa last week instructed the regional leadership to recall the councillors for defying her order.

Shaningwa confirmed the recall yesterday, but declined to comment further.

Oshana Swapo coordinator Samuel Nelongo said the party would soon name its new representatives on the Oshakati council.

“Yes, the news is true but the councillors were only recalled while the party is considering to put things in order and as soon as we have everything finalised, we will announce,” Nelongo said.





Nelongo said the letter to recall the councillors was sent to him on Friday but he could not get hold of all the councillors to inform them of their fate.





He said the candidates next in line on the party list would replace the ousted councillors.

Namibian Sun understands Shimbulu's nomination as management committee chair was not seconded, as is the norm. However, the proceedings continued and her election was endorsed.

Namibian Sun understands that Swapo's Rundu town councillors are also facing being recalled for defying Shaningwa.

The councillors boycotted last week's office-bearer election because of uncertainty over whether mayor Verna Sinimbo would accompany her husband to India, where he is to serve as ambassador.

Yesterday Gabriel Sinimbo was confirmed as Namibia's ambassador to India. As a result of the boycott, the election of office-bearers at Rundu was called off indefinitely, while the disgruntled councillors indicated that they would defy Shaningwa's instruction that the council leadership should remain as is.

KENYA KAMBOWE