Mixed results for opposition in regional polls

NOW HARD WORK ... Swapo members parade through the streets of Khorixas on Saturday, after a historical win in Friday's Regional Council and Local Authority elections. Photo: Nampa

THE 2015 regional council election has produced a mixed bag of results for Namibia’s opposition parties so far.

According to official results announced by the Electoral Commission of Namibia, Nudo has held on to the Otjinene constituency in the Omaheke region and the Okakarara constituency in Otjozondjupa, and also won the Omatako constituency in Otjozondjupa from the Swapo Party.

Swapo also lost the Otjombinde constituency in Omaheke to an independent candidate, Katjanaa Chester Kaurivi, who received 1 396 votes – more than double the 681 votes polled by Swapo candidate Karri Aaron Marenga.

In the Omatako constituency, the Nudo candidate, Israel Hukuva, beat Swapo candidate Susana Hikopua by 1 187 votes to 1 144 – a slim majority of 43 votes.

The UDF has so far lost the Kunene region constituencies of Khorixas, Kamanjab and Sesfontein – both UDF strongholds previously – to Swapo, but scored a victory over the ruling party in the Dâures constituency in Erongo.

At Khorixas, Swapo candidate Elias Xoagub beat the UDF’s Sebastiaan !Gobs by 2 554 votes to 2 008.

At Sesfontein, Swapo’s candidate, Julius Koujova, received 1 514 votes, while his closest challenger, the UDF’s Hendrik Goabaeb, received 1 063 votes. Two independent candidates and an RDP candidate in the Sesfontein constituency received a combined 687 votes – more than the vote difference between the Swapo and UDF candidates.

While the DTA held on to the Epupa and Opuwo Rural constituencies in Kunene, the UDF’s loss of three constituencies in the region and Swapo’s win in the Kamanjab and Opuwo Urban constituencies will see the ruling party capturing a majority of seats in the Kunene Regional Council for the first time.

DTA candidate Nguzu Muharukua was chosen by 3 672 voters at Epupa, while Swapo’s Jona Kakordo received 3 260 votes. In the Opuwo Rural constituency, 2 209 voters opted for the DTA’s candidate, Kazeongere Tjeundo, while 732 votes were cast for Swapo’s Agnes Musaso and Nudo’s candidate, Japiavi Mbinge, received 895 votes.

In Hardap, the United People’s Movement candidate in the Rehoboth Urban West constituency, Laurena Christ, beat the Swapo candidate, agriculture deputy minister Theo Diergaardt, after receiving 1 975 votes to Diergaardt’s 1 479.

The Rally for Democracy and Progress has lost the Windhoek East constituency, which it won in the 2010 regional council election. Swapo candidate Ruusa Joyce Namuhuja beat the RDP’s candidate, Jens Schneider, by 1 795 votes to 1 169, while DTA candidate Reggie Diergaardt received 743 votes – which is more than Namuhuja’s majority over Schneider.

Article: Werner Menges

Kauandenge happy with Katutura Central Election results

Joseph Kauandenge

National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) presidential spokesperson and advisor Joseph Kauandenge is happy with the outcome of the Regional Council Election for Katutura Central Constituency, which he also competed in but lost.
Kauandenge ran against DTA of Namibia candidate Bensen Utarera Jazikua Katjirijova, and incumbent Swapo councillor Ambrosius Kandjii, who retained his seat.
Kauandenge received 920 votes, Katjirijova 718, and Kandjii 3 009 votes after voting on Friday.
The Nudo politician said that although he did not win, his party managed to win a seat on the Windhoek Municipality in the Local Authority Election, and they also won the Omatako Constituency in the Otjozonjupa Region, which belonged to Swapo since Independence.
“The victories have added to the number of constituencies under Nudo countrywide,” he said, adding that these elections showed that their party’s voters have increased compared to previous years, and this makes Kauandenge happy.
He noted that it was his first time to contest these elections (Regional Council) and therefore people are still getting to know him, but he hopes to make it in the next elections.
“Many people didn’t turn up for voting though, and it’s because they have lost hope in the current councillors who do not fulfil their promises,” said Kauandenge.
The Regional Council and Local Authority Elections took place Friday.
-Nampa

Man allegedly casts wrong vote on behalf of another

WRONG BUTTON ... Voters queue up at a polling station in Gobabis for the 2015 Regional Council and Local Authority Elections. A man was arrested on Friday for allegedly casting a vote on behalf of someone else at the Okamatapati fixed polling station. Photo: Nampa

A 39-year-old man was arrested on Friday for allegedly casting a vote on behalf of someone else at the Okamatapati fixed polling station during the Regional Council and Local Authority Elections.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)’s Otjozondjupa Regional Coordinator, Faith Matladi confirmed the incident to Nampa in an interview on Saturday – one day after the polls closed.
Matladi said the complainant opened a case against the suspect who he had asked for assistance to cast his vote for the Swapo party. The suspect allegedly instead voted for the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo).
The complainant and the suspect apparently know each other and when they were at the Regional Council voting booth, the complainant asked the suspect to assist him to vote for the Swapo party. The suspect allegedly pressed the button alongside the Nudo candidate and cast the vote.
Matladi said the complainant then immediately alerted both the ECN officials and members of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) who were working at the Okamatapati polling station.
Okamatapati is situated nearly 100 kilometres east of Okakarara in the Okakarara Constituency of Otjozondjupa Region.
The NamPol Otjozondjupa police chief of operations, Chief Inspector Levi Richter told this news agency on Sunday that the suspect has been arrested and charged with contravening the Electoral Act, Act No 24 of 1992 Section (A) and (B).
The Act prohibits the use of violence or force to compel or induce another person to vote or to refrain from voting in any election. It also prohibits compelling someone to vote or refrain from voting in any election or to vote in favour of a particular party or candidate by way of any fraudulent devices or contrivance.
He said if the accused is found guilty of an offence he or she will on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding N$20 000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or both.
Richter said the case was opened by the complainant himself against the 39-year-old male suspect at the Okamatapati police station under CR 02/11/2015.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Okakarara Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Police investigations into the matter continue.
-Nampa

RDP loses Windhoek East

Jens Schneider (RDP)

The RDP lost their only Regional Council seat in Windhoek East to Swapo.
Interesting that combined the DTA and RDP gained more votes that Swapo.
Ruusa Namuhuja (Swapo) 1,795
Jens Schneider (RDP) 1,169
Reggie Diergaardt (DTA) 743

Source: Election Watch Namibia

Steve Biko Booys rules the roost in Okahandja again

Steve Biko Booys

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in the Otjozondjupa Region on Saturday announced the provisional election results for the Okahandja Regional Council and Local Authority Elections.
A total of 4 544 votes were counted in the Regional Council Election in the Okahandja Constituency on Saturday morning.
DTA of Namibia’s Sophia Basson got 763 votes, independent candidate Welfriedt Goaseb obtained 501 votes and incumbent constituency councillor Steve Biko Booys of Swapo 3 280 votes.
That result was confirmed by ECN Chairperson, Notemba Tjipueja just after 19h00 today.
In the Local Authority Elections, a total of 3 650 votes were counted, and the All People’s Party (APP) obtained 71 votes; DTA of Namibia 236; Nudo 156; Okahandja Rate Payers Association 176; RP 60; RDP 112; Swapo 2 572; UDF 213; UPM 40; and Workers Revolutionary Party 14.
Five seats were allocated to Swapo, while DTA and UDF each obtained one seat on the Okahandja Town Council.
-Nampa

Swapo dominates Windhoek City Council

The seat allocation for the Windhoek City Council has been decided. Swapo will have 12 seats, RDP 1, DTA 1, Nudo 1.
Source: Election Watch Namibia

Swapo reclaims opposition-ruled councils in //Karas

CHALLENGERS ... Some of the //Karas Region DTA candidates for the Local Authority and Regional Council Elections. Swapo won most of the seats in the region. Photo: Nampa

THE Swapo Party has reclaimed almost all opposition-dominated local authority councils in the //Karas Region, while it has retained all seven regional constituencies in the regional and local authorities elections on Friday.

Provisional results indicate that Swapo has regained control of //Karas local authority councils that include Keetmanshoop, Karasburg, Bethanie, Koës and Berseba.

Opposition parties only retained control of the Aroab Village Council.

According to the provisional results, Swapo regional council candidates won in the constituencies of Keetmanshoop Rural, Keetmanshoop Urban, Karasburg East, Berseba, and Oranjemund, while a Swapo candidate was also elected in the new Karasburg West constituency.

The party's candidate for the !Nami≠Nûs constituency, Jan Scholtz, won the regional council election in that constituency, which includes Lüderitz, unopposed.

A visibly delighted //Karas Swapo coordinator, Mathew Mumbala, said he expected victory across the region.

"I am a happy,” said Mumbala, thanking the regional and national leadership and party members, supporters and sympathisers for their hard work in ensuring that the party came out victorious in the elections.

The provisional results are as follows:

LOCAL AUTHORITY

Keetmanshoop Town Council

DTA – 538 ( 1 seat)

DPN – 52

RDP – 186 (1 seat)

RP - 141

Swapo Party - 2 337 ( 5 seats)

WRP – 35

Karasburg Town Council

DTA – 204 (2 seats)

Swapo – 586 (5 seats)

RDP – 45

RP – 36

DPN – 22

Aroab Village Council

Swapo – 264 (2 seats)

RDP – 89 (1 seat)

DTA – 216 (2 seats)

Berseba Village Council

DTA – 200 ( 2 seats)

RDP – 45 (no seats)

Swapo – 266 (3 seats)

Bethanie Village Council

DTA – 188 (2)

RDP – 47 (0)

Swapo – 278 (3 seats)

Koës Village Council

DTA – 105 (1 seat)

RDP – 57 (1 seat)

Swapo – 336 (3 seats)

Tses Village Council

DTA – 156 (2 seats)

Swapo – 260 (3)

REGIONAL ELECTION

Berseba

Dawid Boois (Swapo) – 1 774

Metusalag Trougot Kaffer (RDP) – 148

Diederick Isaak Vries (DTA) – 901

Karasburg East

Dennis Benjamin Coetzee (Swapo) – 1 602

Albertus Laurentius Jossoph (DTA) – 504

Karasburg West

Paulus Amukoshi Ephraim (Swapo) – 566

Charles Leon Peter (DTA) – 222

Elias Tulonga Shipani (RDP) – 97

Keetmanshoop Rural

Elias Kharuxab (Swapo) – 1 288

Willem Martin Stephanus (RDP) – 269

Moses Timotheus Titus (DTA) – 474

Keetmanshoop Urban

Fredrika Kulhmann (DTA) – 551

Hilma Ndinelago (Swapo) – 2 291

Peter John Visser (RDP) – 378

Article: Luqman Cloete 

Swapo conquers all Hardap councils

SWAPO CLEAN SWEEP ... Voters in Rehoboth queue to vote yesterday. Swapo won 4 519 votes (four seats) and UPM 3 101 votes (three seats) on the Rehoboth Town Council.

Provisional results of the 2015 Local Authority Election indicate that Swapo has won all eight town councils in the Hardap Region.
In Mariental, Swapo received 1 325 votes; DTA of Namibia 139; and Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) 93. Provisionally, Swapo gets six seats and the DTA one seat on the Mariental Municipality.
In Rehoboth, Swapo won 4 519 votes (four seats); UPM 3 101 votes (three seats); DTA 482 votes; RDP 179 votes, and UDF 99 votes.
In Gochas, Swapo obtained 326 votes (three seats); DTA scored 96 votes (one seat); Congress of Democrats (CoD) 36 (one seat); and RDP 29.
In Aranos, Swapo won 598 votes (four seats); RDP 246 votes (two seats); DTA 194 (one seat); and Republican Party (RP) 78 votes.
In Stampriet, Swapo won 460 votes (four seats), DTA 63 votes (one seat) and RDP 32 votes (no seat).
In Gideon, Swapo won 680 votes (four seats); DTA 82 votes (one seat) and APP 40 votes (no seat).
In Kalkrand, Swapo won 399 votes (four seats); RDP 121 votes (one seat), DTA 26 votes; and APP 26 votes.
In Maltahohe, Swapo won 511 votes (four seats); APP 109 votes (one seat); DPN 51 votes; and the DTA and RDP each received 32 votes.
-Nampa

RDP possible kingmaker in Aroab tie

DIRE ... Veronica Cloete and her children, who are part of some 15 houses at the Aroab Village without water in their houses. Photo: Nampa file

The Swapo party and DTA of Namibia will each have two seats on the Aroab Village Council, according to ECN provisional results issued on Saturday.
The remaining seat is expected to go to the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP).
Out of 569 votes cast, Swapo won 264, followed by DTA with 216 and RDP with 89.
The tallies were confirmed by Aroab Returning Officer, Abraham Thomas on Saturday.
In 2014 Aroab had 902 registered voters. In 2010 the village had 1 263 voters.
Aroab is located 130 km east of Keetmanshoop and is part of the Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency.
-Nampa

Swapo victorious in Kamanjab, Sesfontein, Opuwo Urban

KUNENE COWBOY … The appointment of former DTA president Katuutire Kaura as adviser to the Kunene regional governor has not gone down well with opposition parties. Has Kaura accepting a government job handed a narrow victory to Swapo in his old stomping ground, Opuwo?

Swapo wrestled the Sesfontein and Kamanjab regional council seats from the UDF and narrowly beat DTA to Opuwo Urban constituencies.

Opuwo was split into two after the findings of the fourth Delimitation Commission in 2013.

Sesfontein

Swapo: 1 514

UDF 1 063

Independent candidate: 272

Independent candidate: 328

RDP: 87

Kamanjab

Swapo: 1 164

UDF: 896

Opuwo Urban

Regional Council

Swapo: 2 431

DTA: 2 396

Nudo: 264

Opuwo Urban

Local Authority

Swapo: 1 593

DTA: 1 504

Nudo: 155

RDP: 44

Swapo will have four of the LA seats and DTA three.