STATE House on Monday announced the names of the last three governors appointed by President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
The governors of the Caprivi, Kavango and Otjozondjupa regions were omitted from the first list of appointments announced by the President’s office.Controversial former Grootfontein mayor Rapama Kamehozu will take over as Otjozondjupa governor from Ferdinand Kavetuna, who did not stand in the regional council elections, apparently in the hope that Pohamba would retain him as governor. It also emerged that Swapo’s chief whip in the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi, has turned down an approach by the people of Otjozondjupa to avail himself for the position.’I deeply appreciate being thought of for such a distinguished position in one of the major regions of our country. However, my position is that of the Swapo Chief Whip and I look forward to continuing in this role,’ Katjavivi said in an e-mail note to The Namibian.State House also announced that the Finance Deputy Director at the Ohangwena regional council, Maurus Nekaro, has been appointed as Kavango governor.The announcement also confirmed The Namibian’s reports that Lawrence Sampofu would be appointed as Caprivi governor after former defence deputy minister Victor Simunja and former Hardap chief regional officer Sankwasa James Sankwasa turned the job down. Sources in the know also indicated to The Namibian that Sampofu was a respected figure in the region and not aligned to the tribal tensions in the region, especially between the Mafwe and Masubia groups.It took more than a week for State House to announce the last three names after it had confirmed the appointments of the other ten governors.Former High Commissioner to Botswana Josua //Hoëbeb has been posted to the Kunene Region, while firebrand Swapo Youth League information secretary Bernardus Clinton Swartbooi will be running the Karas Region. The managing director of Labour Investment Holdings of the National Union of Namibian Workers, Cleophas Mutjavikua, takes over from Samuel Nuuyoma in the Kunene Region.Nuuyoma is relocating to the Khomas Region. Former Khomas Governor Sophia Shaningwa is headed to the Omusati Region.Hardap’s Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, Omaheke’s Laura McLeod, Clemence Kashuupulwa from Oshana, Ohangwena’s Usko Nghaamwa and Penda yaNdakolo of Oshikoto will stay put in their old positions.
