Rundu – The ruling party Swapo is expected to have new faces at the Rundu Town Council after four of its councillors suffered heavy electoral defeats during a recent primary, while two opted not to seek re-election.
Also, all but one of the constituency councillors of the ruling party in Kavango East were voted out, as the nation prepares for regional council and local authority elections slated for November 27.
Rundu mayor Hilka Leevi, her deputy Bobby Kahare, Serafine Kandere and councillor Daniel Lilenga tried their luck at re-election but could not muster a win.
Swapo regional mobiliser Erick Tjandja said the identification of candidates was done in accordance with the rules and procedures of the party, from section to district levels.
The seven candidates who made up the list of Swapo are Verna Sinimbo (225 votes), Toini Hausiku (202), Ralf Ihemba (190), Kandingu Isack (184), Ngondo Johannes (168), Romanus Munika (162) and Annastasia Foya (150).
Their inclusion on the town council will depend on how many seats the ruling party will get in next month’s election.
In regional council primaries for the ruling party, Rundu Urban constituency will also have a new councillor after Vicky Kauma beat her rivals. Incumbent councillor Nimrod Muremi opted not to stand for re-lection.
In Rundu Rural constituency, the extraordinary district conference took place on September 30 and Michael Sikongo retained his candidacy after getting 110 votes beating Lukas Mbangu who got 46 votes.
In the new Ndonga-Linena constituency Petrus Kavhura emerged as the ruling party’s candidate in the upcoming elections after getting 122 votes, defeating Manfred Haipopo Muronga who only managed 19 votes.
In Ndiyona constituency, Eugene Likuwa is the candidate for the ruling party after getting 82 votes. He defeated incumbent councillor Hildegard Mangundu who got 72 votes and Mare Mukoya (62 votes).
In Mukwe, former Kavango governor John Thighuru is the candidate to run as constituency councillor, having defeated current councillor Muriki Kalyangu and Otilie Shinduvi.
The newly proclaimed Divundu Village Council will have its first group of councillors too. Swapo candidates for seats on that council are Josef Dinyando (27 votes), Fulgensia Mukerenge (21), Christof Kupembona (21), Josefine
Mwengere (19 votes), Bertha Nyambe (17) and Martinus Hausiku (16).
The Mashare extraordinary district conference took place yesterday and saw the emergence of a new candidate, Phillip Mavara, who garnered 107 votes ahead of incumbent councillor Bonifasius Wakudumo who got 103 votes.
by John Muyamba