Infighting stalls election of leaders at Keetmanshoop

DIVISION and infighting among Keetmanshoop town councillors representing the Swapo party last week led to a party meeting failing to nominate a candidate for the position of mayor.

The swearing-in ceremony of the council’s management committee, scheduled for today, now hangs in the balance, The Namibian was informed. Last year, Swapo’s regional co-ordinator, Hilma Nikanor, had to intervene and ordered that the incumbent Mayor, Simon Petrus Tiboth, be re-elected.The Namibian has it on good authority that Minister of Fisheries Abraham Iyambo is expected to convene a meeting today in an attempt resolve the standoff among the councillors on who to nominate as the party’s candidate for the mayoral position.Councillors Fiinna Elago, who is believed to be vying for the mayoral position, and Basil Brown are opposed to giving Tiboth another term in office.However, the party’s top brass at the town apparently insisted that the status quo should stay the same.Tiboth has served two consecutive terms as mayor.Last year, Swapo’s regional co-ordinator, Hilma Nikanor, had to intervene and ordered that the incumbent Mayor, Simon Petrus Tiboth, be re-elected.The Namibian has it on good authority that Minister of Fisheries Abraham Iyambo is expected to convene a meeting today in an attempt resolve the standoff among the councillors on who to nominate as the party’s candidate for the mayoral position.Councillors Fiinna Elago, who is believed to be vying for the mayoral position, and Basil Brown are opposed to giving Tiboth another term in office.However, the party’s top brass at the town apparently insisted that the status quo should stay the same.Tiboth has served two consecutive terms as mayor.