Taimi Haihambo
The upcoming constituency council elections, in the Omusati region will see 12 councilor seats contested, with four current councilors stepping down and eight seeking re-election.
In addition, four new candidates will join the race, all representing the ruling party, Swapo.
Swapo’s regional coordinator, Saki Kayone, emphasised that the candidates will not host individual manifestos.
“These councilors are delegates of Swapo and will serve under the party’s manifesto. Any separate manifesto could be interpreted as challenging the current policies that guide their work,” he explained.
Kayone said preparations for the elections are ongoing, including the identification of polling stations and the printing of posters of the candidates.
He said these posters will be displayed across the region in schools, hospitals, and near street lights to ensure voters are familiar with the contestants before election day. He stressed that all efforts are being made to align the process with the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia and avoid any election-day chaos.
One of the councilors seeking re-election is Festus Petrus of Onesi constituency, who has served for 5 years already and is now contesting for a second consecutive term.
During an interview with New Era, Petrus outlined priorities including boreholes in 15 villages via the Rakana Water Supply scheme, rehabilitation of four earth dams, improved mobile network and media coverage, and a community farming project managed by the Okolohadi Royal Palace to store and distribute mahangu during periods of hunger.
He also plans on upgrading the local health centre, serving over 23 000 residents into a district hospital, and improving gravel road access to schools already selected for construction and 12 additional schools to follow.
Alongside this, 38 candidates are contesting in the local authority elections, as Swapo works to ensure a transparent, orderly process aligned with Namibia’s Constitution, while candidates promise tangible improvements in infrastructure, health and food security.
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