THE Democratic Party of Namibia (DPN) has recalled Caroline Arendse, who was this week elected as mayor of Karasburg, for failing to toe the party line.
Arendse was given marching orders after allegedly siding with Swapo councillors during Monday’s election of office bearers.Acting Bondelswarts chief Josef Christiaan (Swapo) was elected as deputy mayor while fellow Swapo councillors Dennis Coetzee and Cornelia Jacobs secured positions on the council’s management committee. In a letter to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) yesterday, party secretary Adam Isaak wrote that Arendse ‘is no longer the duly authorised representative of the party’ in the Karasburg Town Council.’Furthermore, it should with great urgency be noted that the candidate in question is no more admitted to [participate] in any council deliberations, and that DPN … shall not be held accountable for any acts or omissions committed by the said candidate,’ he added.The party wanted the Arendse to form an alliance with the RDP in the council.The DPN’s support in the council could swing things to the advantage of either Swapo or the RDP.The RDP and Swapo garnered three seats each in the council during last month’s local authority election while the DPN secured one seat. Asked why the letter was addressed to the ECN, Isaak accused Karasburg Town Council CEO Eva Nailenge of delaying the execution of party instructions to have Arendse removed.’We informed her [Nailenge] in writing not to have the candidate sworn in, but she ignored it for reasons known only to her,’ said Isaak. Isaak was quick to add that he forwarded the letter to the Karasburg Town Council too.Next in line to become party representative is Ernest Willem Anderson.However, The Namibian has it on good authority that Anderson, in solidarity with Arendse, is reluctant to represent the party in the council. luqman@namibian.com.na
