Hardap Governor re-elected

HARDAP Governor Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, whose term of office expires on December 7, has been re-elected and was sworn in for another term last week.

A party insider claimed the elections were rigged because the Hardap Swapo regional executive committee had sidestepped the Governor’s election procedures as stipulated by the Office of the Secretary General’s Office. According to the party insider, Swapo’s Secretary General informed Swapo regional co-ordinators countrywide in September to identify a maximum of three candidates and submit their names to the Politburo for the selection of one candidate.When approached for comment last week, Hanse-Himarwa brushed off the allegations, saying they were devoid of any truth.She claimed the regional executive committee had nominated her as sole candidate after a fair and democratic election between herself and Regional Councillor Karl Kisting.”Of the 19 votes cast, Kisting garnered only seven votes, therefore I regard myself as a democratically elected leader,” she said.Hanse-Himarwa said the regional executive committee had not bypassed the Secretary General’s directives.”As it was requested to identify three names, the regional executive nominated two names but only decided to follow the legal route, which implies that a council consisting of six members must elect the chairperson of the council,” she said.Hanse-Himarwa said regional councillors Trougot Classen and Barakias Namwandi were elected as management committee members.Edward Wambo, Theo Diergaardt and Kisting will serve as ordinary members.The election of Namwandi to serve on the management committee was also received with mixed feelings.A party insider felt Namwandi already has a huge task to represent the council in the National Council, which could result in him neglecting management committee activities.According to the party insider, Swapo’s Secretary General informed Swapo regional co-ordinators countrywide in September to identify a maximum of three candidates and submit their names to the Politburo for the selection of one candidate.When approached for comment last week, Hanse-Himarwa brushed off the allegations, saying they were devoid of any truth.She claimed the regional executive committee had nominated her as sole candidate after a fair and democratic election between herself and Regional Councillor Karl Kisting.”Of the 19 votes cast, Kisting garnered only seven votes, therefore I regard myself as a democratically elected leader,” she said.Hanse-Himarwa said the regional executive committee had not bypassed the Secretary General’s directives.”As it was requested to identify three names, the regional executive nominated two names but only decided to follow the legal route, which implies that a council consisting of six members must elect the chairperson of the council,” she said.Hanse-Himarwa said regional councillors Trougot Classen and Barakias Namwandi were elected as management committee members.Edward Wambo, Theo Diergaardt and Kisting will serve as ordinary members.The election of Namwandi to serve on the management committee was also received with mixed feelings.A party insider felt Namwandi already has a huge task to represent the council in the National Council, which could result in him neglecting management committee activities.