GOBABIS – Paramount chief of the Ovambanderu Traditional Council Aletta Nguvauva and her followers have severed ties with the ruling Swapo party, saying the party has failed to deliver promised development to the Swapo-ruled Epukiro and Otjombinde constituencies.
The Epukiro and Otjombinde are part of the Omaheke region’s seven constituencies, with the other five being Otjinene, Aminuis, Okorukambe, Gobabis and Kalahari.
But the two constituencies do not enjoy the same level of socio-economic development when compared to the likes of Nudo-led Otjinene and Aminuis constituencies, which boast a raft of tarred roads and decent access to critical services, such as well-resourced police stations, clinics, magistrate courts, shopping complexes and many others.
Epukiro has approximately 52 villages, whose livelihoods mainly consist of livestock farming, interspersed by a few non-farming activities, such as small retail shops, but the constituency lags in many areas of infrastructure development and critical services. Meanwhile, Otjombinde has one declared settlement, named Tallismanus, and three recognised growth points: Eiseb 10, Helena and Okatumba Gate. Swapo enjoys overwhelming voter as well as traditional leaders’ support in these constituencies.
Meanwhile, Swapo’s Omaheke regional coordinator Ruth Kaukuata-Mbura said the resignation of Chief Nguvauva from the party comes as news to her and the regional leadership. She opted to thoroughly consult the district leadership before stating the region’s position.
“We have party structures at all levels and in this case, I will need to first consult and hear from the party’s district leadership in Otjombinde before I can properly comment on the chief’s resignation from the party. But as said, her statement [to leave the party] comes as news to all of us here and is quite unexpected,” she said in short.
It is this noticeable and continuous lack of development in all spheres of life in both constituencies that deeply irks Nguvauva, whose traditional council is a separate establishment from the chief Eben Tjozohongo II Nguvauva-led Ovambanderu Traditional Authority.
“As paramount chief of the Ovambanderu under the OTC and longstanding bona fide member of the Swapo party, I hereby wish to announce to the Ovambanderu people, the Namibian nation and to the world at large that I have personally reached the Rubicon as far as my support for Swapo and herewith withdraw my support to the party. In this regard, I shall also implore my people to rally behind me in withdrawing their support and membership to the Swapo party.
“My unwavering support and that of my people to Swapo, notwithstanding all these years, have not translated into tangible results in terms of development and areas predominantly inhabited by my people, like the constituencies of Epukiro and Otjombinde, which for long have been electoral fortresses for Swapo, have no development to show for. Swapo must refrain from taking me and my people for granted, and offer us the requisite appreciation and recognition as dedicated, committed and unwavering members of the party – year after year and elections after elections,” she said.
Nguvauva also said a high-level meeting is scheduled for later this month in Gobabis, where her followers will be further briefed on the way forward politically for the OTC and how Swapo should be punished at the voting booths in next year’s elections.
“On 23 June 2023, a community meeting is scheduled for Gobabis, where various community issues shall be discussed, including my decision to resign from Swapo. Where and when the community shall decide where and behind who it shall in the future throw its support politically. I have the full confidence that my people shall endorse this action without hesitation because it has all along been their wish that sooner rather than later, we, as Ovambanderu, must take a bold decision against our blatant disregard and marginalisation by Swapo. The Swapo party has grossly violated our traditions, laws, royalty and administrations,” she said.
- ohembapu@nepc.com.na