ENDOLA – Swapo candidate Ferdinand Shifidi emerged victorious during the Endola Constituency by-election on Friday.
Shifidi’s landslide victory came over Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) candidate Pius Hafeni and Venda Denis Kahungu of Congress of Democracy (CoD) .
The by-election in Endola Constituency of Ohangwena Region was necessitated by the death of that constituency’s previous councillor Ruth Nhinda who died in August.
Shifidi emerged victorious with 6 633 votes which represented 90.47 percent of the total votes cast.
Hafeni only garnered 631 votes and Kahangu of CoD received a measly 68 of the votes which represent 8.61 percent and 0.93 percent respectively.
A total of 7 332 votes were cast.
Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) Director of Elections Professor Paul Isaak said the by-election was held in a peaceful environment, which allowed the ECN officials to carry out their jobs effectively.
He praised the community of Endola for turning up in big numbers maintaining the turn-up was beyond expectations.
“I’m happy with the turnout. Because the general election is close, one would think that a few people would have turned up as many would probably prefer to wait for the general election, but the people here came in a big number,” stated Isaak.
The Endola by-election was the second by-election to be held in Ohangwena Region.
In August a by-election was held in Ohangwena Constituency following the death of that constituency’s councillor Maria Kombwana.
Johannes Hakanyome of Swapo trounced RDP candidate Vilho Shomwooshili in that by-election.