Kauandenge slams opposition parties

Opposition political parties are hypocritical and have failed to convince the Namibian electorate that they are ready to lead after 2024.

This according to National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) lawmaker Joseph Kauandenge, who said the behaviour of opposition parties holding seats on the City of Windhoek council has left much to be desired.

He particularly took issue with his party being labelled as ruling party Swapo’s ‘side chick’ after its councillor Joseph Uapingene was voted to the position of Windhoek mayor and deputy health minister Esther Muinjangue’s earlier appointment by President Hage Geingob.

“When we entered there [the City council], the opposition was fragmented. We did not have a common position about what we were going to do. There, too, I am saying, we can claim or blame the Nudo party as much as we want, but when our mayor entered there, he was nominated as a City councillor, not as a Nudo councillor to serve the City’s residents,” he said.

The inability of opposition parties to work with Swapo on the council was equally concerning to Kauandenge.

Hypocrisy

“These parties should stop with their hypocrisy as well. In Windhoek, they don’t want to work with Swapo because Swapo is the animal, the beast, but the same parties are in a coalition with Swapo across the country.

“The same parties that are blemishing the name of Nudo were working with Swapo in council, in the management committee. When did Swapo become the animal that can’t be worked with?” he wanted to know.

Council is currently hamstrung, with only mayor Uapingene and Affirmative Repositioning councillor Ilse Keister serving as deputy mayor. Councillors are yet to fill management committee positions.