Africa-Press – Namibia. Several political parties in the Omaheke region have opted to field candidates in selected constituencies, as an ‘election stratergy’ in tomorrow’s regional council and local authorities elections.
Omaheke has seven constituencies which are Aminuis, Gobabis, Epukiro, Kalahari, Okorukambe, Otjombinde, and Otjinene. Only the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and Swapo fielded candidates in all seven Omaheke region constituencies. One of the notable absentee is the National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO), who for the first time fail to select its candidates in the Epukiro, Otjombinde, and Kalahari constituencies.
NUDO’s secretary general (SG) Joseph Uaraa Uapingene in his response to the omission of candidates said the party could not hold primaries to elect candidates.
“Despite the costs involved in the whole process, we were not ready and we thought of giving our votes to the oppositions in those constituencies,” he said.
The three constituencies are currently in the hands of Swapo councillors with Pineal Packy Pakarae leading Epukiro, while Wenzel Kavaka and Ignatius Kariseb are in charge of Otjombinde and Kalahari constituencies respectively. Uapingene further urged his party supporters to keep democracy alive in Namibia by exercising their rights to vote.
“Although our party doesn’t have candidates in your respective constituencies this time around, it must not prevent you in partaking in the voting process,” he said.
Furthermore, Swanu of Namibia also failed to select candidates in Aminuis and Epukiro for the upcoming election, and claimed that it was for collaboration purposes only.
The party president Evalistus Kaaronda instead urged supporters to vote for Landless People’s Movement and Nudo.
“Our members will rally behind LPM in Epukiro and Nudo in Aminuis constituency. This is all in the name of collaboration and the party members are aware of this move,” he said.
Kaaronda said Swanu has fielded regional council candidates in Otjombinde, and Gobabis only. He added that the party also fielded local authorities councillors in Otjiwarongo, Otjinene, Gobabis, Windhoek and Katutura Central.
On the other hand, LPM’s Sandi Tjaronda, said the party has fielded candidates to contest Okorukambe, Gobabis, Epukiro, Otjombinde and Kalahari regional council seats.
“We strategically omitted Otjinene and Aminuis for the regional council elections, while we fielded candidates in local authorities in places like Gobabis, Leonardville and Witvlei,” said Tjaronda. Asked on who the LPM supporters should vote in the omitted areas, Tjaronda said It is the inalienable right of citizens to vote for the party of their choice.
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