Windhoek
Swapo supporters in the Epukiro Constituency have accused the party’s regional coordinator, Kejamuina Mungendje, of nepotism and refusing to provide them with party membership cards.
The allegations emerged after a controversial election for the party’s district coordinator at Omaueyozonjanda in Epukiro last week Tuesday that saw Safari Hiho re-elected.
Hiho was competing with Afas Kaaheke for the position. He won by 60 votes to Kaaheke’s 25.
Kaaheke told New Era last week that he lost to Hiho due to some party supporters in the district being denied membership cards. He accused Mungendje of refusing to grant membership cards to some supporters to advance Hiho’s victory.
He said Mungendje is doing so in order to make it easier to bring in his preferred candidate for the constituency, Christof Kanguatjivi.
“Hiho’s victory means that Christof Kanguatjivi is more likely to become the constituency councillor and this will fulfil Mungendje desires,” Kaaheke explained.
Mungendje yesterday denied the allegations, saying that although he was aware of the membership card issue he was not to be blame for the disarray.
“What my office did was to print the membership cards and this was handed over to the district coordinator, Safari Hiho,” he said, adding that if anyone is to blame for the disarray it should be Hiho.
On the issue of favouritism, Mungendje said neither Hiho, Kanguatjivi or current Epukiro councillor Ruth Kaukuata-Mbura were his friends. They are, however, his comrades, he said. “All I want for now is the Swapo Party to retain all its five constituencies in Omaheke,” he stressed.
“Mind you, I received a call from Kanguatjivi that I am favouring Kaukuata-Mbura and the same from Kaukuata-Mbura that I am favouring Kanguatjivi and this has put me in a predicament,” he said. Kaaheke has since called on party leaders assigned to region to intervene. He also called for the re-election of the district coordinator position.
“First let them provide everyone with the much-needed membership cards. Only through that can we determine whether the election is fair,” he said. “The election must be free and fair,” he insisted.
In the next few weeks the Swapo Party in the district is set to elect a leader to run for the position of Epukiro Constituency councillor.
New Era understands that ahead of this year regional and local government elections scheduled for November Mungendje is campaigning for Christof Kanguatjivi to win the position of councillor.