Councillor wins interdict against Swapo

The High Court has granted an order interdicting Swapo from continuing with plans to swear in a new councillor at the Helao Nafidi town council.
Former Helao Nafidi councillor Ester Ndatala Nghidimbwa dragged the ruling party to court after Swapo failed to comply with an instruction from her lawyers to reverse its decision of removing her from the council.
Nghidimbwa was sworn in as councillor instead of another candidate, Lucia Nghililewanga, after the local authority elections held in November last year.
Nghidimbwa was not a candidate for the Helao Nafidi town council but instead a candidate for the regional council election in the Oshikango district. Nghililewanga complained and asked the Swapo leadership why she had been replaced.
The reason given for her removal was to equally divide the number of seats won by Swapo among the three districts, a decision which was taken at a regional level. Swapo won six seats in the Helao Nafidi council.
Last month Swapo ordered Nghidimbwa’s removal after discovering that she was in fact a candidate for the regional council election and not for the local authority election.
The respondents included the Swapo Party, the Swapo secretary-general, the Helao Nafidi town council, Helao Nafidi Mayor Eliaser Nghipangelwa, Nghililewanga and the ECN.
“The decision by Mbumba was made without a fair process being followed. I was not heard, nor was I given an opportunity to cross-examine or call witnesses before the decision was made,” Nghidimbwa argued.
Judge Hosea Angula, who presided over the urgent application, postponed the matter to 12 September.

FRED GOEIEMAN