Five parties to contest the Hainyeko by-election

THE DTA of Namibia, Congress of Democrats and the United Democratic Front are not fielding candidates in the upcoming Tobias Hainyeko Constituency regional election.

Ernst Eichab, returning officer for Tobias Hainyeko, confirmed yesterday that only five political parties, including the All People’s Party of former CoD MP Ignatius Shixwameni, have registered candidates for the election. Former Swapo Party councillor for the constituency, Erasmus ‘Kaptein’ Hendjala, is on a Rally for Democracy and Progress ticket after he was expelled from the ruling party.Hendjala was abruptly “excommunicated” for “serious misconduct and violation of the Swapo constitution”.A month later, he joined the RDP and was immediately confirmed as their candidate for the by-election.His wife, a member of the Swapo Women’s Council, did not leave the party with her husband.The other candidates are Clara //Gowases (Republican Party), Zulu Shitongeni (Swapo), Sevelinus Markus (APP) and Obrine Liwela (Nudo).During the last election in 2004, Swapo collected 9 360 votes against 225 of CoD, 221 of UDF, 157 of DTA and 49 of RP.The Tobias Hainyeko Constituency was created from the eastern portion of Hakahana constituency by the Delimitation Commission in 2003.The western portion was renamed Moses //Garoëb constituency.Eichab said around 24 000 voters have registered for the October 31 election.Training for party agents and polling officers will be conducted during the week of October 21.Former Swapo Party councillor for the constituency, Erasmus ‘Kaptein’ Hendjala, is on a Rally for Democracy and Progress ticket after he was expelled from the ruling party.Hendjala was abruptly “excommunicated” for “serious misconduct and violation of the Swapo constitution”.A month later, he joined the RDP and was immediately confirmed as their candidate for the by-election.His wife, a member of the Swapo Women’s Council, did not leave the party with her husband.The other candidates are Clara //Gowases (Republican Party), Zulu Shitongeni (Swapo), Sevelinus Markus (APP) and Obrine Liwela (Nudo).During the last election in 2004, Swapo collected 9 360 votes against 225 of CoD, 221 of UDF, 157 of DTA and 49 of RP.The Tobias Hainyeko Constituency was created from the eastern portion of Hakahana constituency by the Delimitation Commission in 2003.The western portion was renamed Moses //Garoëb constituency.Eichab said around 24 000 voters have registered for the October 31 election.Training for party agents and polling officers will be conducted during the week of October 21.