Five-way fight at Grootfontein

FIVE political parties will contest the Grootfontein by-election next month, the Directorate of Elections has confirmed.

Deputy Director of Elections Ananeas Elago has told The Namibian that Swapo, the DTA, the Congress of Democrats (CoD), the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) and the Republican Party (RP) have all submitted the names of their candidates. Nominations closed at 11h00 last Tuesday.Favourite Swapo will be represented by Kawana Peter Mbwale, while the DTA will field Francis Edgar as its candidate.Boois Titus Matawa will stand for the CoD.Contesting elections for the first time as an independent party, after recently severing ties with the DTA, Nudo has chosen Augustinus Mbakunguna as its flagbearer.Blaauw Jacobus Daniel Marais will represent the other former DTA affiliate, the RP.Elago has declared that preparations for the by-election, slated for 12 February, are “well on course”.”The next thing now is the training of the registration officials,” Elago said.The Grootfontein seat fell vacant after former councillor and Otjozondjupa governor Grace Uushona, Swapo’s previous representative, resigned to become Namibia’s ambassador to Cuba.Nominations closed at 11h00 last Tuesday. Favourite Swapo will be represented by Kawana Peter Mbwale, while the DTA will field Francis Edgar as its candidate. Boois Titus Matawa will stand for the CoD. Contesting elections for the first time as an independent party, after recently severing ties with the DTA, Nudo has chosen Augustinus Mbakunguna as its flagbearer. Blaauw Jacobus Daniel Marais will represent the other former DTA affiliate, the RP. Elago has declared that preparations for the by-election, slated for 12 February, are “well on course”. “The next thing now is the training of the registration officials,” Elago said. The Grootfontein seat fell vacant after former councillor and Otjozondjupa governor Grace Uushona, Swapo’s previous representative, resigned to become Namibia’s ambassador to Cuba.