Jooste welcomed to the Swapo fold

THE ruling party’s presidential candidate Hifikepunye Pohamba yesterday welcomed newly appointed Deputy Minister of Regional, Local Government and Housing Leon Jooste to the National Assembly.

In what could be considered a curious move, President Sam Nujoma appointed the 35-year-old Jooste, a tourism and trophy-hunting businessman, to replace Gerhardt Ttemeyer. Nujoma swore in Jooste as a member of Cabinet on Monday, before he became a lawmaker as required by the Constitution.The Congress of Democrats yesterday latched onto the constitutional technicality and criticised the appointment of Jooste.The opposition party said the appointment was a “gross violation” of the Constitution and that Nujoma had chosen “a hunting buddy” as deputy minister.Nujoma swore in Jooste as a member of Cabinet on Monday, before he became a lawmaker as required by the Constitution.The Congress of Democrats yesterday latched onto the constitutional technicality and criticised the appointment of Jooste.The opposition party said the appointment was a “gross violation” of the Constitution and that Nujoma had chosen “a hunting buddy” as deputy minister.