Anna Ingwafa
9 April 2008
Omuthiya — Swapo Party Secretary-General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana last Saturday assured residents of Omuthiya that the town's by-election that was initially set for February 29 is not completely off as a new date has been set for the eagerly awaited poll.
Iivula-Ithana said the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) is busy with an investigation into the activities of several of its officials implicated in suspected irregularities in the registration of some people that were fielded as contestants.
She made a call to Omuthiya residents to vote for the party that brought about independence and not to give their vote to other political parties.
"Swapo Party is prepared to bring deve-lopment to Omuthiya," she said, adding that only through hard work would development be realized.
She made a plea to Grade 10s who failed last year to make use of the opportunity to repeat. She pleaded, "Please work hard."
On behalf of the Swapo Party, Iivula-Ithana welcomed five people who joined Swapo Party from other political parties.
Those that defected from the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) are Fransina Sakaria, Simeon Enkali Johannes, Vataleni Festus Hamutenya and Amunyela Mbango who was a candidate for the Omuthiya Local Authority election. Gideon Shipahu joined Swapo Party from the Congress of Democrats (CoD).
She assured them that they are welcome. "We accept people from other political parties, in fact, we were preaching for them to come back and are still urging them to come back."
The secretary general noted that last month, the party lost Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development John Alfons Pandeni, first Minister of Environment and Tourism Niko Bessinger and Swapo Women's Council and Ongwediva Councillor Julia Nepembe and a minute of silence was observed in their honour at the party meeting.
She introduced newly-elected Eenhana Councillor Nehemia Haufiku to a big crowd of supporters.
Nehemia is the new councillor for Eenhana Town following the resignation of Max Shinohamba late last year.
Swapo Coordinator in Oshikoto region Armas Amukwiyu told New Era his office had already received the ruling from a magistrate on Monday concerning the exclusion of those who allegedly registered as eligible voters in Omuthiya.
He said the ruling was done and the alleged voters were deregistered.
President Hifikepunye Pohamba will announce the date when the by-election in Omuthiya will take place.
Swapo Party re-announced the names of the candidates that are to contest the Omuthiya Local Authority election. They are Hiskiel Jambo Nanyeni, Selma Nakaziko, Josef Kankunka, Samuel Shivute, Toivo Nghilalulwa, Katrina Uusiku and Toini Adreas.
Swapo Party, RDP, CoD and the DTA will contest the by-election to be announced in due course.
Among those who attended the rally were Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration Rosalia Nghindinwa, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration Teopolina Mushelenga, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Petrina Haingura, Vice-Chairperson of the National Council Magreth Mensah-Willians, Secretary for Swapo Youth League Elijah Ngurare, Swapo Deputy Secretary General Nangolo Mbumba, Deputy Minister of Safety and Security Gabes Shihepo, Oshikoto Governor Penda ya Ndakolo, Omusati Governor Sacky Kayone, Ohangwena Governor Usko Nghaamwa, Oshana Governor Clemens Kashuupulwa, Swapo Coordinator in Oshana region Erastus Uutoni and other dignitaries.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 New Era. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
