Last-minute attempts to oust Luederitz town councillors fail

SWAPO supporters at Luederitz yesterday failed in their last-minute effort to overturn a ruling by Swapo Deputy Secretary General John Pandeni to reinstate six suspended town councillors.

The Swapo supporters’ chairman, Willie Gumede, told The Namibian that attempts to protest against yesterday’s council management swearing-in ceremony failed. Gumede said Magistrate IIleni Gebhardt rejected a no-confidence vote against in the councillors when it was tabled at yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony.”We want a vote of no confidence to be considered as a matter of urgency and seriousness,” the petition Gumede wanted to hand over to the Magistrate reads.The petition demanded that the Magistrate not proceed with the swearing-in ceremony, and called for the immediate suspension of the town councillors.Gebhardt rejected the petition, Gumede said, and advised the Swapo supporters to explore other avenues to voice their discontent over the council office bearers.Gumede said the petition was then handed over to the town’s Chief Executive Officer.He vowed that the Swapo supporters would stage a mass demonstration on Saturday if their demands are not meet.The Swapo councillors were suspended by the party’s Luederitz district co-ordinator Eric Endjala last week, but Pandeni declared the suspension null and void.Pandeni claimed Swapo headquarters had not been informed about the suspension, and ordered the reinstatement of the councillors with immediate effect.The councillors had been accused of infighting over management positions in the council and mismanagement.They were elected during the 2004 Local Authority elections.However, there was controversy over how they made it onto the final list.Swapo regional co-ordinator Hilma Nicanor was accused of changing the party list drawn up by party members after internal polls.Councillor Emilia Amupewa was elected as Mayor yesterday, while Wilhelmina Sylvester retained her position as deputy mayor.George Shimanene, Simon Haindongo, Pesca Mapale and Johannes Valombola were elected to the council’s management committee.In her acceptance speech yesterday, Amupewa implored community members to strive towards unity for the sake of development.”We must change our mindset and focus on economic development,” Amupewa urged.She said the Swapo supporters’ move to oust the council office bearers was done improperly.The new Mayor said that the town council had always acted in line with the Local Authority Act in executing their duties.Gumede said Magistrate IIleni Gebhardt rejected a no-confidence vote against in the councillors when it was tabled at yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony.”We want a vote of no confidence to be considered as a matter of urgency and seriousness,” the petition Gumede wanted to hand over to the Magistrate reads.The petition demanded that the Magistrate not proceed with the swearing-in ceremony, and called for the immediate suspension of the town councillors.Gebhardt rejected the petition, Gumede said, and advised the Swapo supporters to explore other avenues to voice their discontent over the council office bearers.Gumede said the petition was then handed over to the town’s Chief Executive Officer.He vowed that the Swapo supporters would stage a mass demonstration on Saturday if their demands are not meet.The Swapo councillors were suspended by the party’s Luederitz district co-ordinator Eric Endjala last week, but Pandeni declared the suspension null and void.Pandeni claimed Swapo headquarters had not been informed about the suspension, and ordered the reinstatement of the councillors with immediate effect.The councillors had been accused of infighting over management positions in the council and mismanagement.They were elected during the 2004 Local Authority elections.However, there was controversy over how they made it onto the final list.Swapo regional co-ordinator Hilma Nicanor was accused of changing the party list drawn up by party members after internal polls.Councillor Emilia Amupewa was elected as Mayor yesterday, while Wilhelmina Sylvester retained her position as deputy mayor.George Shimanene, Simon Haindongo, Pesca Mapale and Johannes Valombola were elected to the council’s management committee.In her acceptance speech yesterday, Amupewa implored community members to strive towards unity for the sake of development.”We must change our mindset and focus on economic development,” Amupewa urged.She said the Swapo supporters’ move to oust the council office bearers was done improperly.The new Mayor said that the town council had always acted in line with the Local Authority Act in executing their duties.