Kuvee Kangueehi
23 April 2008
Windhoek — The Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) has called on the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to clarify the issue of the disputed Omuthiya local authority elections potential voter, Magnus Nangombe.
Speaking to New Era yesterday, the RDP spokesperson, Nora Appolus, said the party has requested the ECN to clarify the issue failing which the party will go to court to settle the matter.
Appolus said they have evidence that Nangombe was registered well before the closing of registration.
The request from the RDP follows an appeal by the Swapo Party on the ruling of the magistrate at Ondangwa that Nangombe is an eligible voter for the Omuthiya local authority elections.
In its appeal letter, the Swapo Party stated that although Nangombe is a resident of Omuthiya, he did not register as a voter within the prescribed time.
The ruling party claimed that Nangombe was registered on February 12 this year after the registration closing date.
"The registration of voters commenced on February 4 and ended on February 8, 2008 and to the best of our knowledge, there was no supplementary registration of voters made."
The issue of Nangombe appears to be far from over and could be fiercely contested by both parties.
Nangombe is believed to be one of the reasons why the ECN suspended its director, Philemon Kanime, and three other senior employees early last month.
The Omuthiya local authority elections were supposed to take place on February 29 this year but were indefinitely postponed due to objections from the Swapo Party and RDP.
The ECN could not be reached for comment yesterday, although an inside source told New Era that the electoral commission has already removed Nangombe's name from the list and it does not appear on the provisional voters' roll.
Meanwhile, Appolus further told New Era that the party is still planning to hold its first congress later in the year.
She said the party is currently putting structures in place in all regions.
This is crucial for representation of all regions at the congress.
Appolus added that the party is putting women and youth structures in place and the exercise is progressing well.
However, she was quick to dismiss speculation that the race for party presidency will be between Hidipo Hamutenya and Jesaya Nyamu.
A party insider claimed that Hamutenya was strongly tipped for the presidency but following the party's dismal performance in the Eenhana by-election, Nyamu may become an alternative.
The insider claims that a good result for RDP in the Omuthiya local authority elections will boost Nyamu's chances of claiming party presidency.
The insider further claims that the battle for positions will be fiercely contested as top positions will put the occupants in an advanced position to enter Parliament in 2010.
Appolus dismissed the speculations as untrue and aimed at dividing the members.
She noted that all leaders were involved in the Eenhana by-election and Hamutenya cannot be the only one to be blamed.
She added that the entire leadership is currently involved in campaigning for Omuthiya and if the party does well, the entire party should be congratulated and not individuals.
Appolus further added that the party is not happy with the complaint raised by Oshikoto Governor Penda ya Ndakolo on a chat show programme about the RDP door-to-door campaigns.
She said President Hifikepunye Pohamba has called on everybody to stop intimidation and thus since there is no law in the country that outlaws door-to-door campaigns, Ya Ndakolo should stop intimidating her party members.
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