Election springs some surprises

SWAPO has increased its control over Local Authority councils countrywide by three, up from 26 to 29 out of 44 – but had to endure defeat at some towns where the ruling party’s head office had forced candidates onto supporters.

Following Friday’s election, Swapo controls 29 councils, the United Democratic Front (UDF) two and the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) one, while 14 councils did not achieve an absolute majority for any party. There were no elections in the Helao Nafidi and Outapi constituencies, where Swapo was the only party to field candidates.The DTA of Namibia emerged as the biggest loser.Having had had control over nine local authorities in the past, it lost eight.The third local elections saw a poor performance by residents’ associations which were unable to reclaim Otavi and Rehoboth, which they had won in the 1998 elections.Several towns and villages became “hung councils” with political parties and associations expected to cobble together coalitions this week.The hung towns and villages are Aroab, Gibeon, Gochas, Henties Bay, Kalkrand, Kamanjab, Karibib, Keetmanshoop, Leonardville, Okakarara, Omaruru, Opuwo, Outjo and Usakos where no party gained an outright majority.At Gochas, Swapo and the Congress of Democrats (CoD) pocketed two seats each but one of them will have to approach the DTA as a coalition partner, whereas at Outjo the ruling party and the UDF have two seats each and will have to form an alliance with either two, or all of the remaining parties – the CoD, RP or DTA – to govern.Although Swapo remained the dominant party in many towns, its support diminished in former strongholds such as Bethanie and Gibeon, where members either stayed away or voted for the opposition – apparently in protest against the candidates forced on them.The ruling party’s seats were also cut at places such as Karibib, where they were reduced from five to three, Leonardville (six to two), Maltahöhe (five to three) and Outjo (three to two).With results from Windhoek and Grootfontein not included, Swapo had 159 councillors elected, while the CoD had scored 30 councillors in 26 towns, the DTA 30 councillors in 24 towns, the UDF 25 councillors in 13 towns, Nudo eight in six towns, the RP five in five towns, and the Namibia Democratic Movement for Change (NDMC) two councillors at Witvlei.Other residents’ associations gained seven councillors at five towns.A new player in the elections, the Henties Bay Civic Association, did extremely well in the former DTA stronghold, collecting three seats – an equal number to Swapo.The UDF holds the balance of power with one seat.At Gobabis, the local residents’ association only collected one seat.It had three of the seven seats in 1998 – the same number as Swapo.Interestingly, the Council that was in the hands of Swapo in 1992 went to the opposition in 1998 and the ruling party has now reclaimed it after collecting four seats on Friday.At Otavi, the local residents’ association messed up badly and had to give up all four of its seats:Swapo took all five seats.In the South, people voted on issues rather than along political party lines.This resulted in the DTA retaining only one of its four seats at Karasburg and Swapo taking control of the town.The residents voted against the DTA after they had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the introduction of the Southern Electricity Company (SelCo).At Gibeon, the home of Swapo stalwart and former Vice President Hendrik Witbooi, the electorate opted for the Congress of Democrats, which was making its debut at the village.Although the CoD won the most votes, it and Swapo have two seats each at Gibeon.The DTA holds the balance of power with one seat.At Bethanie, Swapo retained the councillors that the community had blamed for mismanagement and paid dearly when the DTA won by eight votes.Three days before voting, Swapo had staged a demo at Tses against the Village Council and it paid off:the ruling party wrested it from the DTA with three seats to one each for the DTA and CoD.Swapo kept its support base in the Caprivi and retained its five seats at Katima Mulilo.The remaining two seats, previously occupied by the DTA, went to the CoD and the RP.As expected, the ruling party walked over the opposition at Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa and only surrendered one seat (to the CoD in Oshakati).However, it will be of concern that voters stayed away in large numbers with only around 50 per cent turning up.The biggest disappointment was Walvis Bay where only 7 846 of the registered 25 904 registered voters turned up.Although the The Namibian went to the printers with two results (Windhoek and Grootfontein) still outstanding, Elections Director Phillemon Kanime declared the turn-out at the two centres as “good”.He described the elections as “free and fair” and said they had offered everyone the opportunity to exercise their rights.”No intimidation was reported to us.Some people tried to blow things out of proportion but that was unfair on us,” he said.The results from Windhoek and Grootfontein were expected to come through later last night.There were no elections in the Helao Nafidi and Outapi constituencies, where Swapo was the only party to field candidates.The DTA of Namibia emerged as the biggest loser.Having had had control over nine local authorities in the past, it lost eight.The third local elections saw a poor performance by residents’ associations which were unable to reclaim Otavi and Rehoboth, which they had won in the 1998 elections.Several towns and villages became “hung councils” with political parties and associations expected to cobble together coalitions this week.The hung towns and villages are Aroab, Gibeon, Gochas, Henties Bay, Kalkrand, Kamanjab, Karibib, Keetmanshoop, Leonardville, Okakarara, Omaruru, Opuwo, Outjo and Usakos where no party gained an outright majority.At Gochas, Swapo and the Congress of Democrats (CoD) pocketed two seats each but one of them will have to approach the DTA as a coalition partner, whereas at Outjo the ruling party and the UDF have two seats each and will have to form an alliance with either two, or all of the remaining parties – the CoD, RP or DTA – to govern.Although Swapo remained the dominant party in many towns, its support diminished in former strongholds such as Bethanie and Gibeon, where members either stayed away or voted for the opposition – apparently in protest against the candidates forced on them.The ruling party’s seats were also cut at places such as Karibib, where they were reduced from five to three, Leonardville (six to two), Maltahöhe (five to three) and Outjo (three to two).With results from Windhoek and Grootfontein not included, Swapo had 159 councillors elected, while the CoD had scored 30 councillors in 26 towns, the DTA 30 councillors in 24 towns, the UDF 25 councillors in 13 towns, Nudo eight in six towns, the RP five in five towns, and the Namibia Democratic Movement for Change (NDMC) two councillors at Witvlei.Other residents’ associations gained seven councillors at five towns.A new player in the elections, the Henties Bay Civic Association, did extremely well in the former DTA stronghold, collecting three seats – an equal number to Swapo.The UDF holds the balance of power with one seat.At Gobabis, the local residents’ association only collected one seat.It had three of the seven seats in 1998 – the same number as Swapo.Interestingly, the Council that was in the hands of Swapo in 1992 went to the opposition in 1998 and the ruling party has now reclaimed it after collecting four seats on Friday.At Otavi, the local residents’ association messed up badly and had to give up all four of its seats:Swapo took all five seats.In the South, people voted on issues rather than along political party lines.This resulted in the DTA retaining only one of its four seats at Karasburg and Swapo taking control of the town.The residents voted against the DTA after they had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the introduction of the Southern Electricity Company (SelCo).At Gibeon, the home of Swapo stalwart and former Vice President Hendrik Witbooi, the electorate opted for the Congress of Democrats, which was making its debut at the village.Although the CoD won the most votes, it and Swapo have two seats each at Gibeon.The DTA holds the balance of power with one seat.At Bethanie, Swapo retained the councillors that the community had blamed for mismanagement and paid dearly when the DTA won by eight votes.Three days before voting, Swapo had staged a demo at Tses against the Village Council and it paid off:the ruling party wrested it from the DTA with three seats to one each for the DTA and CoD.Swapo kept its support base in the Caprivi and retained its five seats at Katima Mulilo.The remaining two seats, previously occupied by the DTA, went to the CoD and the RP.As expected, the ruling party walked over the opposition at Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa and only surrendered one seat (to the CoD in Oshakati).However, it will be of concern that voters stayed away in large numbers with only around 50 per cent turning up.The biggest disappointment was Walvis Bay where only 7 846 of the registered 25 904 registered voters turned up.Although the The Namibian went to the printers with two results (Windhoek and Grootfontein) still outstanding, Elections Director Phillemon Kanime declared the turn-out at the two centres as “good”.He described the elections as “free and fair” and said they had offered everyone the opportunity to exercise their rights.”No intimidation was reported to us.Some people tried to blow things out of proportion but that was unfair on us,” he said.The results from Windhoek and Grootfontein were expected to come through later last night.