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Pohamba Mediates Mbanderu Dispute

Home Archived Pohamba Mediates Mbanderu Dispute

By Kuvee Kangueehi EPUKIRO The District Co-ordinator of the swapo Party in Epukiro Constituency, Muueze Ndjavera, has called on party leaders to swiftly resolve the internal fights within the party in the Otjombinde Constituency. Welcoming the delegation headed by Swapo party Vice President Hifikepunye Pohamba at the Epukiro Swapo office, Ndjavera said the Epukiro District Executive was concerned that the factors that led to Swapo losing the Otjombinde constituency during the last election could spill over to Epukiro. Ndjavera said the findings of the investigating committee, which was led by the Chairperson of National Council, Asser Kapere, must be made public and implemented. The investigating team, which is also known as the ‘Kapere Commission’, completed the investigations and handed over the finding to the politburo through its Secretary General. Despite informing the Central Committee during its last meeting that the investigations were completed, nothing had been done in that regard. Ndjavera said the factors that led to the party losing during the elections are beginning to show in the constituency and need to be addressed. It is believed that the internal fights within the Mbanderu community led to Swapo losing votes at the last elections. The Mbanderu community, which is a Swapo stronghold in the Epukiro and Otjombinde Constituency, is split into two factions, one supporting paramount Chief Munjuku Nguvauva, while the other backs Senior Traditional Councillor Erastus Kahuure. It is alleged that Kahuure’s faction during the last elections decided not to back Swapo Regional Council candidate Willie Hoveka who is a close ally of Nguvauva. The Kahuure faction in the end voted for the Swanu Regional Council candidate Matti Ndjoze, who was the ultimate winner – so the story goes. Currently, the Otjombinde Constituency is the only constituency in the Omaheke Region where party structures are not in place. Omaheke Swapo District Co-ordinator Festus Ueitele said they are still awaiting instructions from the party’s top leadership to hold a district conference to elect a new executive. However, a senior party leader in the region said the Otjombinde problem is complex for the party to handle, as both factions are important to the party. He said the only way the party could resolve this issue was by reconciling Nguvauva and Kahuure. President Pohamba, who is currently on an official two-day visit to the Omaheke Region took note of the point. On his part, he said the district executive should work hard in order to make the Swapo 2002 Congress resolution on gender balance a reality. He said the district executive must ensure that women participate in party activities in order to make it to congress later this year. At the same occasion, the new Epukiro District Executive was also introduced to the party vice president. While still at Epukiro, the president held a closed-door meeting with Nguvauva. According to some traditional councillors who attended the meeting, the Chief and President discussed the problems facing the people of the constituency such as the lack of a mortuary. The Chief also reminded the President about the need to build a traditional authority house at the village.