Festus Hamalwa
Linea Dishena
GUINAS – Swapo’s Moses Khumub won the Guinas constituency by-election with 1 407 votes, defeating his cousin Fransiskus Khumub from the Landless People’s Movement, who garnered 612 votes.
The by-election took place on Friday and saw 2 019 votes cast, with 22 ballots rejected.
It was necessitated by the death of former Swapo councillor Elias Kainda Marthinu in October 2024.
Over the weekend and accepting defeat, Fransiskus was quick to say him and his cousin are not enemies and will continue to maintain peace.
Guinas is a small constituency with 4 337 eligible, registered voters.
The newly-elected councillor told New Era that he will ensure service delivery and community engagement.
“I will fight unemployment in our constituency because there is a high unemployment rate among the youth,” he said.
In addition, the incoming councillor said he will collaborate with the ministry of agriculture as well as the ministry of trade to ensure that the youth set up agricultural projects and businesses.
Moses stressed that he would ensure San children are enrolled in schools because roaming the streets is not good.
“I will engage various stakeholders, including the office of the education minister, to ensure that children stay in school,” he added.
Moses, who served as a community activist, said he does not have any problem with his cousin Fransiskus due to their contest for the councillor position.
Also speaking to our publication, Fransiskus said he does not have a problem with Moses, although they were contesting.
“It is normal, and we were just exercising our democratic rights. Congratulations to my cousin, and I wish him all the best,” he added.
Fransiskus confirmed that he accepted the results because the election was fair.
However, he expressed his disappointment over LPM members who allegedly betrayed him.
“During my campaign, I had so many supporters who were following me, but they did not vote. They were just pretending,” he added.
Fransiskus said he did not expect to lose this by-election.
Voters at Oshivelo, shortly after casting their votes last week, expressed hope that the new councillor will bring jobs, food, and shelter.
Helena Harabe (62) from Ondera has called on the incoming councillor to ensure that all San children are enrolled in schools to prevent them from roaming the streets.
Meanwhile, the Swapo-led government plans to transform the Tsintsabis settlement into a village council, the party’s regional coordinator for Oshikoto Armas Amukwiyu said.
He made the statement shortly after their candidate’s victory was confirmed by the Electoral Commission of Namibia.
Amukwiyu thanked the residents of Guinas constituency for their continued trust in Swapo and pledged to carry forward the late councillor’s development initiatives. He also emphasised the government’s commitment to addressing the community’s needs by establishing the village council.
“We are going to respond to our people’s needs as promised by setting up a village council that will address all their basic requirements,” he said.
He further noted that Swapo has already constructed multimillion-dollar infrastructure in Tsintsabis, which includes a regional councillor’s office, to serve them.
-fhamalwa@nepc.com.na
-Nampa