Africa-Press – Namibia. With regional and local authority elections drawing closer, political temperatures are rising in Walvis Bay as rival parties gear up for what promises to be a fiercely contested battle for control of the harbour town.
Walvis Bay Rural constituency councillor Florian Donatus, who is currently restrained by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) will seek re-election and is set to be challenged by his constituency’s administrative officer, Ruben Shikongo.
Local authority councillor Albertina Nkoshi will face Walvis Bay mayor Trevino Forbes for the Urban Constituency seat.
The two parties (Swapo and IPC ) set the ball rolling last week by starting the selection of candidates for the upcoming regional and local authority elections, slated for November this year.
Swapo’s Walvis Bay Rural district coordinator, Patrick Bathromeus, yesterday told New Era that they successfully concluded their primaries over the weekend. He said they fielded a mixture of youth and business figures in their quest to reclaim the harbour town.
Although the official list of results has not yet been released, Walvis Bay municipal workers Mina Hangula, Justy Moses, businessman Johny Doeseb and councillor Ephraim Shozi are among the candidates who made it onto Swapo’s local authority list.
“We are happy with the candidates. They are indeed capable of helping us get Walvis Bay back,” he said.
Meanwhile, IPC has fielded 20 candidates for the local authority elections, including deputy mayor Sara Mutondoka and councillor Olivia Andrew. Councillor Louis Kativa is the party’s only candidate for the Swakopmund constituency, while Liza Hengombe and Moses Mbuti will contest the Omaruru candidacy. Profila Iyambo has been approved for Arandis, with Rudolf Tseibeb and Gerson Kuvare set to contest in Daures.
Not making a return this time are councillors Deriou Benson from Walvis Bay Urban and Victor Leroy.
IPC Erongo coordinator Aloysius Kangulu yesterday confirmed that the names had been vetted but said constituencies would still finalise their selections. “Various constituencies will now further exercise their democratic right and carry out the elimination process as per our constitution,” he explained.
In a circular to IPC members, national general secretary Christine Auchamus indicated that the approved candidates would proceed to elections in their respective constituencies. “Internal elections will still take place where more than one candidate was approved. Final names must be submitted by 22 September,” she said.
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