Former Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) councillor Richard Hoaeb is among several independent candidates contesting in this month’s Erongo regional elections.
Hoaeb, who was the chairperson of the Walvis Bay Municipality’s management committee, was expelled from the PDM last month after announcing his intention to contest as an independent candidate.
He is now running for the Walvis Bay Rural constituency seat.
Other independent candidates include Sidney Halupe, a Swakopmund-based activist vying for the Swakopmund constituency, and Dennis Tjiueza, a former United Democratic Front (UDF) councillor contesting for Omaruru constituency.
Hoaeb says his decision to go independent stems from frustration with political interference and slow bureaucratic processes.
“I chose to stand as an independent candidate because leadership must put people before politics.
“Many residents feel unheard and underserved due to political gridlocks. I have seen how party interests can overshadow genuine community needs,” he says.
Hoaeb says his independence allows him to work freely with authorities and other stakeholders without the weight of party directives.
His priorities include improving access to water, sanitation, and rural road networks, particularly at farm 37, Rooibank and Utuseb.
“Access to water, sanitation and transport is not a luxury, it is a right. Our people deserve reliable services, and I intend to deliver that through a local infrastructure task team that ensures accountability and faster progress,” he says.
Meanwhile, at Swakopmund, Halupe (32) is gaining traction among younger voters.
“We have believed for so long that someone will save us, but no one is coming. That is why I decided to stand up as an independent candidate, to be a voice for the voiceless and to fight for fairness,” he says.
His campaign focuses on housing and land reform, education access, and accountability in public spending.
“Leadership should not be a career, it should be a calling to serve and I am not here to talk, I am here to act,” Halupe says.
At Omaruru, Tjiueza, who served as a councillor from 2015 to 2020, says community interests should take precedence over political directives.
“Political parties often work through directives that do not always reflect the real needs of the people on the ground, and as an independent, I can engage directly with residents and make decisions that speak to their priorities,” he says.
He also highlights the importance of collaboration between regional councils and local authorities to achieve sustainable development.
The rise of independent candidates in the Erongo region is not new.
Knowledge Ipinge won the Walvis Bay Urban by-election as an independent candidate in 2020 and went on to serve as regional councillor.
The regional council and local authority elections are scheduled for 26 November, with the Electoral Commission of Namibia expected to release the full candidate list for all seven constituencies in the coming weeks. – Nampa
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