OMUTHIYA – Oshikoto Swapo coordinator Armas Amukwiyu says the nullified elections for Olukonda district and Oniipa local authority remain in limbo.
A rerun is, therefore, needed after the discovery of irregularities during the respective primary elections, according to Amukwiyu, who added there were serious procedural flaws. The elections were conducted two weeks ago, with Fillemon Ndjambula elected as the preferred candidate for Olukonda constituency after receiving 29 votes, followed by Victoria Shipinge, who closely came in at second place with 27 votes. Brakias Moongo and incumbent councillor Victoria Shikongo had secured seven votes each, while Annelie Neema got six votes. In the local authority vote, Chief Nangolo, David Kambonde, Oiva Amuthenu, Reinhold Shigwedha, Hileni Idhogela, Selma Namuhuya and Saara Kawana were elected as the seven Swapo candidates.
“For Oniipa, we established that one of the female candidates who was supposed to be declared winner was erroneously replaced by the returning officer with another member. How this happened, no one knows – whether it was a mistake or deliberate. Therefore, this is an injustice to the one who was removed,” Amukwiyu said.
The issue came to the fore after the replaced candidate raised the matter. A verification process was done and it was found to be true.
“We opened the ballot box at the regional office and after counting, we saw there was indeed an error. There was no way the other candidate could be removed anymore, as this issue was not addressed immediately on the eve of elections; therefore, a rerun will have to be conducted for a free and fair process,” he said.
For Olukonda, it is alleged that party members who were not delegates participated in the voting process. Amukwiyu said they were still waiting for a directive from the secretary general’s office as to when they can hold the rerun.
“We want to have all the Swapo candidates registered but we are unable, as others are still pending. We, however, hope this issue will be resolved sooner,” added Amukwiyu. Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa did not respond to phone calls and text messages sent to her cell phone.
– osimasiku@nepc.com.na