Keetmans candidate denies Pajero claims

KEETMANSHOOP – The Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) candidate for the Keetmanshoop Urban constituency, Ernst Jash, has vehemently denied rumours that the Swapo Party has promised him a Mitsubishi Pajero.

Rumours are rife that Jash, a former Swapo member, was promised the luxury vehicle by Swapo candidate and regional organiser, Hilma Nicanor, if he stood as a candidate for the opposition DTA. This was claimed to be a strategic move to split the opposition vote between the DTA and the Congress of Democrats, giving Swapo a better chance of retaining the seat.Both Jash and the CoD candidate, youth leader Kauna Schroder, are popular among the Tseiblaagte township’s Nama-speaking community.Jash said that he joined the DTA after he was approached to be their candidate, as they could not find a strong enough candidate to field.Jash, who resigned from Swapo just two weeks before the deadline for the registration of candidates, said although the ruling party was doing well at national level, the Karas Region had largely been neglected.He said that his conscience and his desire to see development coming to the Karas Region prompted him to resign from the ruling party.- NampaThis was claimed to be a strategic move to split the opposition vote between the DTA and the Congress of Democrats, giving Swapo a better chance of retaining the seat.Both Jash and the CoD candidate, youth leader Kauna Schroder, are popular among the Tseiblaagte township’s Nama-speaking community.Jash said that he joined the DTA after he was approached to be their candidate, as they could not find a strong enough candidate to field.Jash, who resigned from Swapo just two weeks before the deadline for the registration of candidates, said although the ruling party was doing well at national level, the Karas Region had largely been neglected.He said that his conscience and his desire to see development coming to the Karas Region prompted him to resign from the ruling party.- Nampa