Grootfontein district in Swapo ‘pot’ limbo

Allegations of illegal voting and character assassination that characterised the ruling party’s district conference in Grootfontein a fortnight ago reflect the deep tensions and divisions within the party’s structures in the Otjozondjupa Region.It has now emerged that less than two weeks before the Swapo Party’s electoral college, the Otjozondjupa regional leadership directed the district leadership in Grootfontein to reconvene the district conference because Grootfontein regional councillor Elder Filipe voted at the previous conference when he was not supposed to.The 83 delegates who voted at the district conference voted for the quartet of Lovisa Iyambo, Mandume Kawana, Frieda Kaluwa and Filipe to represent the district at the regional conference that took place last weekend.Concerns raised This comes at a time when a litany of concerns have been raised by disgruntled party members about the fairness of the selection process for candidates for the party's electoral college, slated for next month.“The voting rights of councillors entirely prevails only in their structures, including at district conferences. It is therefore advisable that the ordinary district conference be rerun in order to avoid possible disqualification or nullification of the upcoming regional conference as a regional councillor voted at the recently held ordinary district conference in Grootfontein district as per the report from the returning officer,” Otjozondjupa regional coordinator Imms Namaseb wrote in a letter addressed to Grootfontein district coordinator James Shipunda on Wednesday.Shipunda, who confirmed receiving the letter, said he cannot comment on it until a decision is made on whether to implement the directive or not.“I am still busy with it. I will tell you more when I finalise it,” Shipunda said. Equipped to handle issuesSwapo spokesperson Hilma Nicanor yesterday poured cold water on the Grootfontein saga, saying there are sound intra-party election processes in place."So far, we haven’t been served with problems, but we have not been informed. I am also in the politburo, so I will not know. I haven’t learned of any problem. I have difficulty responding to things I do not know,” she said.Nicanor emphasised that, as a big party, Swapo is equipped to handle any serious issues should they arise.Addressing reports of ministers and top officials seeking nominations through structures, regions or districts where they have no ties, Nicanor suggested that such manoeuvres could also be because of work-related duties."This is Namibia, my dear, maybe one is from another part of the country just by work or duty," she said.She also responded to the case of information minister Emma Theofelus, who is advancing through the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), saying Theofelus is a member of the Swapo Youth League, which makes her eligible to enter through any structure of the party.jemima@nmh-hub.com.na

Grootfontein district in Swapo ‘pot’ limbo

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Grootfontein district in Swapo ‘pot’ limbo

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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