Swapo has crippled Rundu – APP

All People's Party (APP) secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu says the infighting between Swapo councillors serving on the Rundu town council and the party's various structures is a sign of a 'dead organisation' whose actions are further crippling the cash-strapped riverside town.In an interview with Namibian Sun over the weekend, Kanyetu complained that the town council has not yet conducted its election and swearing-in ceremony for office-bearers, a situation blamed on the continuous infighting in the ruling party, which currently occupies five seats on the council.“It is not fair to the residents of Rundu to be disregarded in such a manner. Last year was the same case, as the swearing-in ceremony was postponed on several occasions for the same reasons. This simply tells you that Swapo is a dead organisation that has lost its vision. The Rundu town council is pretty much held hostage by the Swapo Party, which is failing to sort out its mess,” Kanyetu said.On 11 December 2019, the Rundu town council was in the process of conducting its election and swearing-in ceremony, but the event was cut short when Swapo Rundu Urban district executive committee coordinator Gabriel Hakusembe interrupted Magistrate Hellen Olaiya.Isak Kandingu, Toini Hausiku and Anastacia Antonio were later recalled by the executive commitee. This resulted in a series of letters being exchanged between the Swapo district executive committee, the office of the Rundu acting CEO and the trio.Last week, urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga said his ministry is monitoring local authorities that do not have structures in place and that the law will be enforced to deal with them.In March 2018, Mushelenga suspended the entire Rehoboth town council because of ongoing mismanagement, poor service delivery and lack of accountability, as well as its inability to implement ministry directives.Kanyetu said there is nothing wrong with the minister exercising his powers.However, Kanyetu said that because the problem is within Swapo, the minister should remove all their councillors.“The minister can remove all the Swapo councillors, that is fine with us as the APP, but if the minister decides to take action against our member (Mathews Wakudumo), we will have a problem with that. We are not the ones who stopped the swearing-in ceremony. Our elected councillor is forever ready to serve the people of Rundu,” Kanyetu said.He added it's high time that the electorate holds Swapo accountable.“You see, the funny thing is that during last year's National Assembly and presidential elections, the residents of Rundu Urban gave Swapo an overwhelming majority, yet they are not receiving much-needed services,” he said.It is not clear when the Rundu town council will conduct its election and swearing-in ceremony. KENYA KAMBOWE

Swapo has crippled Rundu – APP

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

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Swapo has crippled Rundu – APP

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

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