Corrupt councillor resigns from Otjiwarongo municipality

NAMPAOTJIWARONGOThe Otjiwarongo town councillor who was found guilty of corruption in July has resigned.Hilde Noreses resigned on Wednesday and informed the Swapo Party leadership that she was no longer interested in serving as councillor.The Swapo Party coordinator in the Otjozondjupa Region, Susan Hikopua, confirmed the resignation.“I also communicated the same message to the Swapo Party district leadership of Otjiwarongo to consider replacing her,” said Hikopua.The names of Hilde Jesaja and KaNamibia Kandume are next on the party’s candidate list for the local authority.The Otjiwarongo town council last Tuesday failed to conclude its annual election of political office-bearers after the councillors became embroiled in a heated debate about the nomination of Noreses to serve on the management committee.Magistrate Ivette Fredricks then postponed the election to 14 December, saying the councillors should first resolve their disagreement.The meeting was expected to elect a mayor, deputy mayor, management committee chairperson, two permanent members of the management committee and an alternate member.The seven councillors were Gottlieb Shivute, Julienda Kampungu, Godhardt Hoko, Hilde Noreses, Sebetius Guiteb, Dr Maritz Laubscher and Fearika Elizabeth Botha.Shivute, Kampungu, Hoko and Noreses are all Swapo members, while Guiteb is from the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Laubscher from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and Botha from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC).Opposition objectsThe debate started after Shivute nominated Noreses as management committee member, to which the opposition unanimously objected.They said Noreses was corrupt as she had been found guilty and sentenced by a competent court of law in July 2021. They further stated that she had paid a fine of N$50 000 to escape a two-year jail term for bribery and corruption.Noreses had committed the crime at the Otjiwarongo offices of the ministry of finance, where she had worked.After her conviction, she resigned from the ministry but continued serving at the municipality.

Corrupt councillor resigns from Otjiwarongo municipality

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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Corrupt councillor resigns from Otjiwarongo municipality

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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