SWAPO has given instructions to the Khomas Regional Council to rename the Soweto constituency in Katutura to John Pandeni constituency.
The party’s information secretary, Jerry Ekandjo, told Khomas Governor Sophia Shaningua on Sunday to put the process in motion for the changing of the constituency name. Pandeni, who died in a car accident in March this year, was honoured with hero status and buried at the Heroes’ Acre.Ekandjo said Pandeni was the first councillor for Soweto constituency and also the first Governor of the Khomas Region.Shaningua promised to take the instruction further.Five years ago, Parliament approved the third delimitation commission report which proposed five new constituencies and several name changes.The Hakahana constituency was split into two with the eastern part called Tobias Hainyeko constituency and the other part the Moses //Garoëb constituency.This was done because residents resented the name Hakahana, which means “hurry up” in Otjiherero.It also changed the name of the Wanaheda constituency to Samora Machel constituency.Wanaheda is an acronym for ‘Wambos, Namas, Hereros and Damaras’ – a name imposed against the wishes of the inhabitants.The commission changed the name to honour former Mozambican President Samora Machel despite objections that there were Namibian heroes and heroines equally worthy of having a constituency named after them.The commission said the changes were made after a careful consideration of all the oral and written proposals submitted to it.”Name changes were recommended only in instances were the commission was satisfied that the proposed names were generally accepted and/or where there was no expressed objection to the proposed names.”Pandeni, who died in a car accident in March this year, was honoured with hero status and buried at the Heroes’ Acre.Ekandjo said Pandeni was the first councillor for Soweto constituency and also the first Governor of the Khomas Region.Shaningua promised to take the instruction further.Five years ago, Parliament approved the third delimitation commission report which proposed five new constituencies and several name changes.The Hakahana constituency was split into two with the eastern part called Tobias Hainyeko constituency and the other part the Moses //Garoëb constituency.This was done because residents resented the name Hakahana, which means “hurry up” in Otjiherero.It also changed the name of the Wanaheda constituency to Samora Machel constituency.Wanaheda is an acronym for ‘Wambos, Namas, Hereros and Damaras’ – a name imposed against the wishes of the inhabitants.The commission changed the name to honour former Mozambican President Samora Machel despite objections that there were Namibian heroes and heroines equally worthy of having a constituency named after them.The commission said the changes were made after a careful consideration of all the oral and written proposals submitted to it.”Name changes were recommended only in instances were the commission was satisfied that the proposed names were generally accepted and/or where there was no expressed objection to the proposed names.”
