WINDHOEK – Former DTA secretary general and veteran parliamentarian Alois Gende has joined the All People’s Party (APP), the APP president Ignatius Shixwameni confirmed to New Era late yesterday. Shixwameni described Gende as an experienced and influential politician who has a lot to offer the APP. “We welcome him, he is a good asset for our party and … the Kavango region,” he said.
Gende joined the APP with Mildred Ford who is the chairperson of the Khomas Regional Management Council of the Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN). Ford is a daughter of Martha Ford a former Swapo activist before independence.
Gende was a member of the National Assembly from 1990 to 2010. For the last two years, Gende did not occupy any leadership position in the DTA and has been involved in cattle farming. He is described as having been one of the DTA leaders with a strong influence in the Kavango.
But DTA secretary general Vincent Kanyetu, who is also the coordinator for Kavango, said the void left by Gende’s resignation would hardly be felt. “I do not see any effect apart from a minus one, and I do not want to reveal the secret – he is just one person but we are being joined by new members every day,” said Kanyetu.
Kanyetu said the DTA would remain strong in Kavango, and especially with the new leadership it is hoping to win the hearts and minds of many residents in that part of the country.
Shixwameni is optimistic that having Gende in the APP would change the political landscape of the country, especially in Kavango. Gende and Ford now bring the APP membership to 50 000.