By: Hellen Andreas

The election of the chairperson of the management committee at Oniipa town council was followed by drama after David Kambonde of Swapo refused to be nominated to the position by IPC councillor David Nghifikepunye.

Kambonde would only accept a nomination from fellow Swapo member Jafet Nangolo.
Oniipa Town Council MC consists of three members: David Kambonde, the former Mayor for Swapo party, Jafet Augustus Chief Nangolo, former MC Chairperson for Swapo party and David Nghifikepunye of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member who retained his position in the MC.
According to the sources within the council, the meeting was adjourned for another day since they failed to conclude who to nominate first.
The meeting continued last week where they decided to go for a voting option, and Kambonde got the most votes.

The development comes as the newly elected mayor of the town, Hileni Idhogela of the Swapo party, refused to be nominated into the position by an IPC councillor before being nominated and seconded Swapo councillors.
The spokesperson of IPC, Immanuel Nashinge, said when it comes to the local authority, as councillors, they are guided by the Local Authority Act of 1992 to nominate each other without looking at political parties.
“There is nothing like a policy of IPC this and that, by law, the Local Authority Act is calling upon these councillors to nominate each other in the Local Authority positions,” Nashinge said.
“It means as you’re in there, you’re a servant of the people, you live party colours outside and focus on serving the people of Namibia. That is how we operate.”
Nashinge said if Swapo councillors refuse to be nominated by other political parties, they violate the law and the rules of the Local Authority Act, and they discriminate against the person who has the right to nominate whoever.
“The ball is on their court to make sure that they do what is expected of them so that they don’t waste time and get back to work to serve the people of Oniipa to bring the needed services.”