Michael Mutonga Liswaniso
KATIMA MULILO – Kabbe South constituency councillor John Likando says he has always been ready to leave the political stage earlier, but it is difficult to do so when the people and country still need him to serve.
Hence, he is currently busy preparing what he called a ‘decade legacy report’ – not only for his successor but also for the entire constituency and generations to come.
Likando, who is a Member of Parliament (MP) in the National Council, made these remarks recently in an interview with Nampa at his residence in Katima Mulilo, when he was reflecting on his political journey and the eventual “graduation” from the National Council to the National Assembly.
The MP features at number 51 on the Swapo Party’s gazetted parliamentary list for 21 March 2025. The Swapo Party managed to garner 51 seats in the November 2024 elections compared to the 63 parliamentary seats it received in the 2019 elections.
“In terms of the constitutional arrangements, you cannot take two oaths, so when the right time comes, I will equally do the same and step down – it’s a matter of principle. Leaving the political stage early has always been my ambition and give others a chance to run for political office, but it is difficult to do so when the people still want your services. It will also be interesting to work with the first female elected president,” he said.
Likando’s elevation to the National Assembly will mean he has to resign before 21 March, thereby creating a vacancy in the constituency and pushing for a by-election that has to take place within 90 days in the constituency as dictated by the country’s electoral law.
“My political journey has not been easy. It is full of scars, from tribal de-campaigning to a lot of things, but I survived and honestly, I have not been given any political position on a silver platter from the local authority to the regional council level. This is just a message to the generation that what we have now is an economic struggle and we have all the guns to run the economy and all the ammunitions to defend this country from the colonial masters,” he narrated.
Likando said he will be leaving office a happy man and will be giving his successor the decade legacy report where, he said, notable achievements outweigh the failures.
“It’s very unfortunate that in our African political setup, people don’t see development by their eyes unless they are informed,” he noted.
He mentioned among others, improvements in school infrastructure from mud structures; improvements on the road infrastructure as well as the coverage of both MTC and TN networks in the constituency that he said stands at above 80%.
He, however, bemoaned that most places in the constituency are not electrified, while further, a lack of potable treated water for both human and livestock use was a major concern. Whoever takes over from him has to look into this as a matter of urgency.
Currently, in the National Council, Likando chairs the Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Security, Constitutional and Legal Affairs.
He also chairs a committee on the SADC Parliamentary Forum as well as the Namibia-Russia Parliamentary Friendship Group.
-Nampa