Zebaldt Ngaruka
Gobabis mayor Melba Tjozongoro has expressed feelings of betrayal by Swapo over the use of the closed Legare Stadium for the party’s final rally in Omaheke on Saturday.
The municipal council had decided on 11 September to close the region’s largest sports stadium, to allow for lawn recovery. Tjozongoro defended the council’s resolution, stressing that priority was given to restoring fields A and B, and that decision must be respected.
She noted that agreements were reached with clients who had booked the fields in advance, with refunds issued where necessary.
“There was communication with all clients, and field C was open for events. Clients who didn’t want to use field C took their money back without deductions, and those in agreement didn’t take it,” said Tjozongoro.
She explained that tournaments and political rallies in the past month were held on field C as per the agreement, in line with the council’s directive.
In a turn of events, Swapo’s regional coordinator Ruth Kaukuata-Mbura told New Era that the party accessed Legare Stadium through municipality CEO, Sophia Eises. Kaukuata-Mbura expressed confusion over Tjozongoro’s apparent lack of awareness about the arrangement.
“We went together with Eises, and we installed everything, including the turf protector, to prevent damage to the field. The turf protector was used in other regions where we had rallies. Kaukuata-Mbura denied that there was any earlier communication from the municipality to Swapo about their booking.
“We requested the mayor to call a meeting on this matter, but she doesn’t want a meeting. She is taking the matter politically, and that is not fair,” said Kaukuata-Mbura.
Tjozongoro, who serves as a councillor for the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), dismissed allegations of political bias, noting that her own party held its rally on field C in accordance with the council’s decision to close Legare Stadium.
“I don’t know why they are saying that. As far as I know, the council does not have smaller or bigger customers. We treat all the customers the same,” said Tjozongoro.
Regarding the CEO’s involvement, Tjozongoro argued that Eises overstepped her authority by facilitating Swapo’s access to the closed stadium.
“She went beyond if she went with Swapo to do that. I don’t understand why they don’t want to use field C like others. Even the Omaheke Top 8 tournament was staged there,” Tjozongoro added.
The mayor warned that allowing Swapo to use the closed stadium sets a dangerous precedent.
“All will start making references to the Swapo rally, and that will pose more harm to the stadium’s recovery. Swapo has taken over power from the council, which was given by the community. Whoever needs to use the field will apply to Swapo,” she remarked.
When asked about the issue and the letter she reportedly wrote to the ministry of sport, Eises referred New Era to the mayor and the municipality spokesperson Frederick Takulu Ueitele for comments.
Meanwhile, the closure of Legare Stadium has impacted local sports. The Gobabis-based Premier League team, Young African, has relocated to Windhoek due to the unavailability of the venue.