WINDHOEK – The Chairperson of the National Council Asser Kapere says he could not go to the National Assembly knowing his departure from the council could leave those appointed at his discretion jobless, and because it would necessitate two by-elections in Erongo Region.
Kapere is the regional councillor for Arandis Constituency.
A by-election is already pending to replace the late Swakopmund Constituency Councillor Germina Shitaleni.
Kapere said this yesterday when he confirmed to New Era that he had informed Swapo Party on Monday that he wished to withdraw from the party’s parliamentary list for the National Assembly. He was at position 33 on the 96-member list of Swapo.
He said more than five people working in his office including his special assistant, secretary and labourers would have been on the brink of being jobless had he left his current position.
“I thought of all these things thoroughly. If I had to leave the National Council then it means there will be two by-elections in the Erongo Region. So I decided to rather see out my term which ends in December,” he said.
Kapere said he would not be able to sleep at night knowing his decision to leave the council would leave those in his office jobless.
“If you are too political you might have trouble sleeping at night, therefore you need to balance the human and political aspects,” he said.
Asked why he did not consider the negatives when he decided to avail himself at last year’s electoral college, Kapere said: “I reconsidered my decision after looking at the negatives and based on that I saw that the best thing is for me to stay and complete my term.”
Kapere, Professor Peter Katjavivi and current National Assembly Deputy Speaker Loide Kasingo are some of the names rumoured to succeed incumbent Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab.
Kapere has been the chairperson of the National Council since 2004.
Swapo Party Elders Council central committee member Loide Shinavene and Khomas regional coordinator Gothard Kasuto have joined the group of Swapo members who will be sworn in as MPs in a few days’ time.
Kasuto and Shinavene are at positions 79 and 78 on the ruling party’s parliamentary list. They failed to make it into parliament because Swapo only got 77 seats during last year’s National Assembly elections.