Otjiwarongo office-bearer election concluded
Enzo Amuele
Otjiwarongo
After being postponed twice due to unresolved concerns, the election of office-bearers in Otjiwarongo has finally been completed.
Taking place on 14 January, the elections were originally slated for 30 November 2021 but were postponed due to a heated disagreement that broke out during proceedings.
Otjiwarongo mayor Gotlieb Shivute had nominated Hilde Noreses to serve on the management committee, which sparked a dispute.
Ex-Swapo local authority councillor Noreses (47) was convicted of corruption early last year, hence opposition councillors objected to the nomination. Since Noreses’ resignation on 7 December 2021, the seat has been filled by Hilde Jesaja, who was nominated by Swapo.
A second meeting, scheduled for 14 December 2021, was also cancelled after Swapo council members failed to show up at the last minute due to “Covid-19-related reasons”, and a Swapo congress scheduled from 20 to 25 December.
Nomination declined
Gotlieb Shivute (Swapo) was re-elected as mayor and chairperson of the council, while Julienda Kampungu (Swapo) was re-elected as deputy mayor and deputy chairperson.
Godhard Hoko (Swapo) was elected as chairperson of the management committee, and Hilda Jesaja (Swapo) and Fearika Botha (Independent Patriots for Change) as members of the management committee.
“I nominated Jesaja for chairperson for her experience and good leadership in the past when serving on the council, but she, unfortunately, declined the nomination and Hoko was duly elected,” Botha said.
She added that Jesaja declined due to Swapo orders and directives.
Sebeteus Guiteb (Landless People’s Movement) was elected as an additional member of the management committee. Popular Democratic Movement’s Laubscher Maritz resigned on 13 January, resulting in a vacancy on the council. All councillors took their oath on 14 January.
Otjiwarongo
After being postponed twice due to unresolved concerns, the election of office-bearers in Otjiwarongo has finally been completed.
Taking place on 14 January, the elections were originally slated for 30 November 2021 but were postponed due to a heated disagreement that broke out during proceedings.
Otjiwarongo mayor Gotlieb Shivute had nominated Hilde Noreses to serve on the management committee, which sparked a dispute.
Ex-Swapo local authority councillor Noreses (47) was convicted of corruption early last year, hence opposition councillors objected to the nomination. Since Noreses’ resignation on 7 December 2021, the seat has been filled by Hilde Jesaja, who was nominated by Swapo.
A second meeting, scheduled for 14 December 2021, was also cancelled after Swapo council members failed to show up at the last minute due to “Covid-19-related reasons”, and a Swapo congress scheduled from 20 to 25 December.
Nomination declined
Gotlieb Shivute (Swapo) was re-elected as mayor and chairperson of the council, while Julienda Kampungu (Swapo) was re-elected as deputy mayor and deputy chairperson.
Godhard Hoko (Swapo) was elected as chairperson of the management committee, and Hilda Jesaja (Swapo) and Fearika Botha (Independent Patriots for Change) as members of the management committee.
“I nominated Jesaja for chairperson for her experience and good leadership in the past when serving on the council, but she, unfortunately, declined the nomination and Hoko was duly elected,” Botha said.
She added that Jesaja declined due to Swapo orders and directives.
Sebeteus Guiteb (Landless People’s Movement) was elected as an additional member of the management committee. Popular Democratic Movement’s Laubscher Maritz resigned on 13 January, resulting in a vacancy on the council. All councillors took their oath on 14 January.
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