Battlefield Omuthiya

SPARKS flew at Omuthiya yesterday as parties hurled allegations of fraud at each other ahead of tomorrow’s first local authority election in the newly proclaimed town.

Well-placed sources informed The Namibian that the voters’ roll which Swapo used to lodge a complaint against the presence of Magnus Nangombe’s name on the Omuthiya list was allegedly smuggled out of the Directorate of Elections by members of the party who work there. The sources said that one list without Nangombe’s name was given to the party before the voters’ roll was finalised.When the actual voters’ roll – with 1 587 names – was made available at the local Police station for inspection, Swapo’s Regional Co-ordinator for Oshikoto, Armas Amukwiyu, cried foul.He claims that Nangombe’s presence on the voters’ roll was illegal as he had not registered in time.Nangombe is a candidate for the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) in tomorrow’s election.Director of Elections Phillemon Kanime said how Swapo got hold of the list with 1 586 names would be “very interesting”.”I really would like to know how they got it.But I am sure that he registered on time,” Kanime said.Another well-placed source suggested that the list had been “smuggled out” of the ECN offices.Amukwiyu denied that Swapo had got its hands on the two lists through dubious means.”We got them through the relevant structures.Don’t be surprised if we prove that Nangombe’s name was smuggled onto the list.We know who did it and at what time,” he claimed.He said Swapo would reveal the names of its sources “if the worst came to the worst”.Amukwiyu claimed that Nangombe was not the only one “smuggled onto” the voters’ roll.”Some parties have brought in people and they are being kept and fed at shebeens.We know them,” he alleged.His claims could not be checked independently.Amukwiyu said they had lodged an objection to several names on the voters’ list.Swapo’s seven candidates will fight it out against representatives of the RDP, the DTA and Congress of Democrats (CoD).Political analysts say that despite Omuthiya having a small electorate, Swapo does not want to allow the newly formed RDP to gain political traction.The sources said that one list without Nangombe’s name was given to the party before the voters’ roll was finalised.When the actual voters’ roll – with 1 587 names – was made available at the local Police station for inspection, Swapo’s Regional Co-ordinator for Oshikoto, Armas Amukwiyu, cried foul.He claims that Nangombe’s presence on the voters’ roll was illegal as he had not registered in time.Nangombe is a candidate for the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) in tomorrow’s election.Director of Elections Phillemon Kanime said how Swapo got hold of the list with 1 586 names would be “very interesting”.”I really would like to know how they got it.But I am sure that he registered on time,” Kanime said.Another well-placed source suggested that the list had been “smuggled out” of the ECN offices.Amukwiyu denied that Swapo had got its hands on the two lists through dubious means. “We got them through the relevant structures.Don’t be surprised if we prove that Nangombe’s name was smuggled onto the list.We know who did it and at what time,” he claimed.He said Swapo would reveal the names of its sources “if the worst came to the worst”.Amukwiyu claimed that Nangombe was not the only one “smuggled onto” the voters’ roll.”Some parties have brought in people and they are being kept and fed at shebeens.We know them,” he alleged.His claims could not be checked independently.Amukwiyu said they had lodged an objection to several names on the voters’ list.Swapo’s seven candidates will fight it out against representatives of the RDP, the DTA and Congress of Democrats (CoD).Political analysts say that despite Omuthiya having a small electorate, Swapo does not want to allow the newly formed RDP to gain political traction.