Albertina Nakale
Unrelenting infightings between Swapo councillors on the Grootfontein municipality have resulted in the town’s elected mayor stepping down for the sake of peace and stability in the party.
The Grootfontein Swapo district executive committee convened a meeting on 28 November 2021 to deploy its office bearers to the Grootfontein municipal council.
At that meeting, Mukwaita Shanyengana, who is the chairperson of national leaders assigned to Otjozondjupa, was also present during the election process. Other national leaders present included Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) secretary Efraim Nekongo (returning officer), Itah Kandjii-Murangi, and Kornelia Shilunga who read the rules of procedure.
Lovisa Iyambo was preferred as the town mayor on 28 November 2021 after she garnered 20 votes in comparison to her rival Talitha Garises who got 14 votes.
Although the election was properly conducted, Garises allegedly refused to accept defeat, which forced Iyambo to make the dramatic decision on Friday after being at loggerheads with fellow councillor Garises since December when she contested for the mayoral seat.
At that meeting, Iyambo was unanimously elected to serve as mayor of Grootfontein municipal council on Swapo’s ticket.
Contacted for comment, Shanyengana confirmed the infighting and that Iyambo agreed to step down.
He also said the 28 November election was free, fair, and transparent.
“I spoke to them. Iyambo compromised for Garises to be mayor for the party to move forward. Some people are complaining about why Iyambo compromised her position. But it is important to save the party. The swearing-in will take place. The lady [Garises] accepted the mayoral position,” Shanyengana reacted.
Iyambo would have been serving her second term from December 2021 until December 2022 had she stepped down.
“One comrade has been aggrieved of the democratic outcome and the situation that led to the swearing-in stalemate. After consulting the senior leadership at the regional level, I decided to step down as duly elected mayor of Grootfontein. I compromised in 2010 for other people to take up local authority membership as my name was number four on the list. I was elected as district secretary of women’s council in 2012 and I still compromised for others,” Iyambo said.
In total, Swapo has four seats, while the opposition has three members in the council. The term of mayor is one year.
In 2019, Iyambo said she was nominated to the electoral college of the Swapo party, and still, she compromised for others to take up those portfolios.
“I have decided after consultations with the senior leadership in Otjozondjupa region and in the district of Grootfontein and for the sake of unity, inclusivity within the party and delivery of services to the residents of Grootfontein, that I step aside as a duly nominated candidate for the position of mayor for Grootfontein municipality and allow comrade Talitha Garises to assume the mayoral responsibilities,” she said.
Iyambo noted due to continued infightings, the town’s development has been halted and service delivery to residents has been compromised.
“We are now stuck. The people are suffering because of infighting, so I decided to step down as mayor for her to take the position she wants for the sake of peace. We are waiting on the party to convene a meeting so the swearing-in can happen again. We are just all councillors and things are at a standstill,” Iyambo charged.
Garises was not available for comment.
Iyambo pledged her unconditional support to the Swapo party leadership at the council and hope this decision will put an end to the swearing-in impasse.
She served as mayor from December 2020 to December 2021. During her tenure, she was deputised by Alfeus Nghikevali, while Victor Shandjuka served as chairperson of the management committee. Garises and Elizabeth Kastoor served as members of the management committee.
–anakale@nepc.com.na
Caption: (Swapo )