Africa-Press – Namibia. Swapo has removed one of its members on the Oniipa Town Council, David Kambonde, from his position as mayor and replaced him with his deputy, Hileni Idhogela.
Kambonde was removed from his position during the election of political office-bearers of the Oniipa Town Council on Monday. He is now a member of the management committee, where will serve with David Nghifikepunye and Jafet Augustus, who is chairperson of the management committee.
Oniipa’s new deputy mayor is Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) town councillor Patemoshela Nakanyala. Idhogela confirmed her election as mayor, saying Kambonde was not nominated because the position is rotational.
She refused to comment on the nomination of an IPC councillor as her deputy. Kambonde said he does not know why he was not nominated. He said Swapo dictates the composition of the council and council has to comply with the directive of the party.
He said he does not know whether his removal has to do with the fact that he was nominated by an IPC councillor as mayor of Oniipa in December last year.
“I have not been nominated but I have not been removed. The position of the mayor is rotational,” Kambonde said.
Swapo Oshikoto regional information secretary Saara Shikokola said she could not comment on the matter, as her office had not been informed about the removal of Kambonde. The party’s regional coordinator in Oshikoto, Armas Amukwiyu, said he did not know of the development.
In January this year, Swapo’s Oniipa district executive recommended Kambonde’s removal as mayor for allegedly accepting the mayoral position from the IPC, and subsequently nominating an IPC councillor for a management committee position.
Swapo at the time accused Kambonde of violating the party’s code of conduct when he accepted the position. Swapo has four councillors in the Oniipa Town Council. The IPC has three councillors.
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