Africa-Press – Namibia. The Onandjaba Village Council chairperson, Jesaya Hanghuwo, has been ordered to resign from his position following a directive by Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa.
This is contained in a directive issued on 5 December by Swapo and seen by The Namibian, directed to the party’s Omusati coordinator, Sackey Kayone.
Hanghuwo, a Swapo councillor, was sworn in on 5 December along with four other councillors and was elected as chairperson of the council.
Swapo currently has four seats while the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has one seat.
Hanghuwo’s resignation order comes after the Swapo councillors defied Shaningwa’s directive to elect a chairperson nominated by the party’s political bureau of the central committee.
According to IPC Omusati Secretary Matatias Nakweenda, its councillor nominated Erkki Kandjaba of Swapo but the majority nominated Hanghuwo.
A week ago, Shaningwa directed all regional councils and local authorities to nominate individuals suggested by the party to serve as chairpersons.
“Hanghuwo is required to resign from his assumed position as chairperson of the Onandjaba Village Council (not resigning as a local authority councillor), in terms of Section 11 (2)(b) and (4)(b) of the Local Authorities Act, by way of a letter addressed and delivered to the village secretary/chief executive,” she directed.
Shaningwa directed the councillors to ensure a fresh election for the council chairperson is held in strict compliance with the political bureau’s directive, stating the election must take place no later than the first village council meeting after Hanghuwo’s office becomes vacant.
She said the nomination and secondment of Kandjaba must occur in accordance with the consensus reached among the councillors last Monday, in the presence of the members of the task team.
“Martha Emvula must nominate Kandjaba and Rakel Ashivudhi must second the nomination,” she said.
Shaningwa has since directed that the election of the chairperson, presided over by the magistrate, must take place no later than 12 December.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Hanghuwo said: “There is nothing that prevents me from complying with the directive from the authority. In the meantime, the relevant ministries are in a process putting all in order.”
Kayone yesterday said progress has been made and that the directive has been implemented.
“Hanghuwo has resigned as the chairperson of the council and his resignation has been referred to the council secretary and to the line ministry,” he said.
The council’s administrative control officer, Kallush Aipinge, says Hanghuwo remains the chairperson until further notice.
He adds that the council will only make an official announcement once there is a new development.
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