Africa-Press – Namibia. Members of the ruling Swapo party in Tsumkwe district are at logger-heads following the postponement of the party’s district conference last weekend.
The conference was set to elect the party’s candidate for Tsumkwe constituency to contest the upcoming regional council elections slated for 26 November 2025.
Royal Kxao /Ui/o/oo, the chairperson of the Swapo leaders assigned to the Tsumkwe district and member of parliament, postponed the meeting, and that decision was not well received by some party members.
Sharing with New Era, /Ui/o/oo said proper rules were not followed in setting up such an important meeting, and that led to the postponement of the conference.
Among the rules omitted, he highlighted that no roll-call took place and that election observers were supposed to be elected and presented to the district conference.
“These did not happen. A roll-call must be conducted before any election is to take place, which is very healthy for the process to continue,” he said.
The assigned leader further called on the party members to know the role of the leaders assigned to the regions.
“One thing that members must know is that we advise and guide. Therefore, please do not take sides and insult us calling us stupid,” /Ui/o/oo said.
New Era has learnt that interruptions by a concerned group protesting against alleged undemocratic and unconstitutional practices in the formation and revival of Swapo branches and sections in Tsumkwe also led to the postponement of the conference.
The group alleged that branches and sections were revived irregularly, with some revival happening secretly at night, while others were revived a day before the district conference.
/Ui Tshao speaking on behalf of the concern group said these actions took place in the presence of both district coordinator and regional coordinator.
“These raised concerns that the process from onset was deliberately manipulated to favour the current Tsumkwe constituency councillor Johannes Hausiku.
Tshao added that party wings (elders council, youth league, and women council) are dominated by close relatives of the current councillor.
“We don’t know how and when they were formed. New sections and branches are formed secretly by the current councillor Hausiku.
This practice has sidelined many genuine members, created divisions, and excluded broader community from participation,” he said.
Swapo district coordinator for Tsumkwe constituency, Renate Swartbooi, said what happened on Sunday was not the decision of the executive, but a disruption of the scheduled process.
“According to the Swapo party’s constitution, only the district executive committee has the authority to guide or postpone a district conference. The district conference remains a constitutional requirement, and the structures will ensure it proceeds accordingly,” Swartbooi said.
On the allegations or complaints of unfairness in the renewal of the mandates process that took place earlier this year, she said official correspondence confirming the fairness of the process is available.
She further said allegations levelled against her and the constituency councillor that leadership positions in structures and branches were given to those close them are not true.
“These allegations are misleading. Swapo follows open and democratic processes where members are nominated and elected by their branches and sections,” she said.
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