Iipinge drawn into Swapo Grootfontein storm

Otjozondjupa Swapo regional coordinator Immanuel Namaseb has accused Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge of interfering in regional affairs and attempting to overrule decisions made by the party in the region.The accusation follows an order by Iipinge, Swapo’s leader assigned to Otjozondjupa, to suspend section leadership elections in Grootfontein.The accusation follows letters exchanged on 19 October over the legality of elections conducted by a Swapo-appointed task force in April 2025, which Iipinge insists remain valid, but Namaseb claims were conducted illegally.Iipinge directed Namaseb to immediately halt the renewal of section mandates, arguing that the exercise had already been completed and that attention should instead shift to outstanding branch and district elections.He argued that it is “unacceptable for completed processes to be unnecessarily repeated while the renewal of mandates at branch and district levels remains outstanding”.Iipinge instructed the region to facilitate the renewal of branch and district leadership by 31 October, warning that repeating the section elections would undermine the party's constitution.The governor also questioned the legitimacy of an elections committee, saying he had neither been consulted nor informed about its establishment.Namaseb’s challengeNamaseb rejected the directive, accusing Iipinge of issuing instructions without adequately familiarising himself with the situation in Grootfontein.“You cannot issue directives to the regional leadership nor overrule decisions of the district executive committee or the regional executive committee," Namaseb told Iipinge.He explained that the district executive committee was responsible for conducting the elections, while the regional executive committee had appointed a committee to observe proceedings and ensure compliance with party rules.Namaseb also challenged the legitimacy of the April 2025 elections.“The process was cooked. We are aware that the political bureau was misled in that regard,” he wrote, adding that reports on the exercise had not been provided despite repeated requests.He maintained that the current renewal process followed a recommendation by the district executive committee and complied with the party's constitution and rules.Namaseb further insisted that James Shipunda would remain Grootfontein district coordinator until a district conference either re-elected him or chose a replacement.Iipinge, however, insisted that the section leadership mandates renewed in 2025 were valid for two years and should not be renewed before their expiry.Leadership contestMeanwhile, Swapo district treasurer Joseph Andreas denied being responsible for the dispute.Andreas said the district executive committee had requested the party's head office to release the names of leaders elected during the 2025 exercise. He said the district would proceed with section and branch elections if the names were not provided.“There are people that are fighting for positions within the party. Different people are interested in different positions,” Andreas said.He also linked the tensions to competition for positions ahead of the party's 2027 congress but said he would not contest any election.

Iipinge drawn into Swapo Grootfontein storm

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-23

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Iipinge drawn into Swapo Grootfontein storm

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Namibian Sun 2026-10-23

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