Kauandenge exits Nudo, forms association focusing on local government

Former Nudo secretary general Joseph Kauandenge says he is no longer a member of the National United Democratic Organisation (Nudo), and has formed his own association.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kauandenge said Nudo’s political landscape no longer prioritises serving the interests of the Namibian people.

His statement comes a week after he stepped down as secretary general of the party, while stating at the time that he remained a member.

However, on Tuesday, the former secretary general said he is no longer a member, and that he has registered the Association for Localised Interests (Asoli) with the Electoral Commission of Namibia to enter into and focus on local government politics.

The association is expected to be launched this Friday.

Kauandenge said it was a question of whether his personal vision and his vision for the country aligned with that of Nudo, and that “after more than 25 years”, the answer was a resounding: “No.”

“There are currently groupings in Nudo that are claiming leadership of the party and this is affecting the party in the long run. So I thought, can we do something new, something fresh, something that will drive young voters to come and vote? But unfortunately that will not be through Nudo. Because Nudo is embroiled in disputes and in-fighting,” said Kauandenge.

Last year, Kauandenge announced he would run for Nudo president during the party’s July congress but later withdrew, with many believing his decision to withdraw from running for the party’s top job was likely forced.

At the time, former Namibia Football Association secretary general Barry Rukoro questioned why Kauandenge was running for the position while holding the secretary general position.

At the time, Rukoro said Kauandenge was faced with a conflict of interest and was using his position as secretary general to push him (Rukoro) out of the running for party president.

“He is a young and capable man who could have helped us rebuild the party and make it much more attractive for the younger generation of voters if he stayed, but now that he has taken that decision, we must all respect it,” said Rukoro.

Kauandenge previously said Rukoro was not a card-carrying member of the party and cannot stand for election to a leadership position.

VISION FOR WINDHOEK

Kauandenge said Asoli’s campaigning will be confined to the area of the City of Windhoek as the association plans to contest in this year’s regional and local authority elections for the Windhoek Municipal Council.

He said Asoli has identified certain weaknesses in the municipality of Windhoek such as alleged leadership vacuums when political parties fail to elect political office bearers for months, and the alleged failure of council members to work collaboratively, ultimately depriving citizens of municipal services.

“We want to help the City of Windhoek through entering this year’s election and trying to make sure fights do not happen,” he said.

Former Nudo president Esther Muinjangue also recently resigned from her position as leader of the party, citing threats by party members who allegedly protested that they would not vote for the party if she contested for a parliamentary seat.

In 2020, she was appointed as a deputy minister of health by late president Hage Geingob.

Muinjangue occupied one of the party’s two seats in parliament alongside Kauandenge. Nudo won one seat in the National Assembly following the 2024 election, which is currently occupied by former Okakarara constituency councillor Vetaruhe Kandorozu.

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