Mulisa Simiyasa 

Otjiwarongo municipal councillors retained their positions during an internal election exercise on Monday.

The seven councillors are Gottlieb Shivute, Julienda Kampungu, Godhardt Hoko, Hilda Jesaja, Sebetius Guiteb, Ernst Muraranganda and Gideon Iiyambo.

The councillors were sworn in by Magistrate Billy Lutaka.

Mayor Gottlieb Shivute was nominated by his fellow councillor Jesaja, and seconded by Kampungu, to retain his position. In return, Hoko nominated Kampungu to retain her position of deputy mayor, and was seconded by mayor Shivute.

Hoko was re-elected as chairperson of the management committee, along with Jesaja, Muraranganda and Guiteb as an additional member.

All three members of the municipality’s management committee – Jesaja, Muraranganda and Guiteb – have been serving in their positions for at least 12 months.

Iiyambo remains an ordinary councillor of the municipality.

Shivute, Kampungu, Hoko and Jesaja serve the municipality on a ticket of Swapo. 

Guiteb is a member of the Landless People’s Movement, while Muraranganda is from the Popular Democratic Movement. 

Iiyambo is from the Independent Patriots for Change.

In his acceptance speech, Shivute promised to carry out his council mandate to deliver serviced land for residential purposes.

The provision of clean drinking water, sewage systems and electricity connections remain a priority on the development agenda, he said. –Nampa