Last scramble for votes

Ahead of the impending regional council and local authority elections, political parties over the last few days made their final push for votes, focusing on development and accountability.

In Windhoek, Swapo president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at a youth engagement at Okuryangava over the weekend called on young people to help keep “the chain” unbroken.

“You have given Swapo the powers to lead the central government under the Netumbo administration and Cabinet, and the parliament in the National Assembly I have set up,” she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah warned that if young people do not help Swapo win, her administration would be faced with challenges.

She encouraged those contesting local authority positions to ensure funds allocated to towns translate into visible development.

The president said the N$750 million allocated to the City of Windhoek must result in progress on the completion of 5 000 informal settlement housing units.

She said similar expectations apply to Rundu, Walvis Bay, Oshakati and Keetmanshoop.

At Walvis Bay, Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) president Panduleni Itula over the weekend said the era of complacent leadership and public excuses is over.

He urged voters to defend the progress made under IPC-led structures by electing leaders who “act, not apologise”.

He said Namibians should refuse to reward non-performance at the polls, especially at a time when communities are demanding accountability, land, and better service delivery.

“Our foundation is not built on empty promises. We made commitments to restore dignity, to bring land to the people, to ease the financial burden on vulnerable households, and we honoured those commitments despite immense challenges,” he said.

FOOD, JOBS, HOUSING, EDUCATION

National Democratic Party president Martin Lukato, who was campaigning in the Zambezi region, promised voters equitable land redistribution, agriculture and food security, and poverty reduction.

He further promised job creation and job security, as well as education, and the latest free public healthcare.

“We will also ensure social protection and housing by providing affordable housing and affordable living standards,” Lukato said.

Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani at the party’s recent star rally at Okakarara and Katutura central promised to repair and maintain roads, upgrade gravel roads, and improve drainage.

He said the party will provide better sanitation, clean water and affordable housing by working with reliable builders on low-cost housing.

“We will invest in local production and advocate for rural job creation to reduce pressure on overcrowded towns,” he said.

The party further promised to link farmers to the market and ensure every constituency has a working clinic, as well as expanding mobile outreach while improving coordination within regional hospitals.

He called on Namibians to vote for change.

Affirmative Repositioning (AR) spokesperson George Kambala over the weekend said the movement has begun clearing land at Kongola in the Zambezi region for its planned stadium.

Last year, the AR secured a piece of land in the area for the project.

“By the time we come back here in December next year, there should be some progress. When we say we are going to do something, we commit fully. We are not here for the election campaign,” he said.

Swanu of Namibia president Evilastus Kaaronda last week on the party’s social media page said it would aim to end a lack of land, electricity and water in the three regional councils and six local authorities it is contesting in.

Kaaronda said the party will bring the constituency development fund back to life to ensure all constituencies get funding to address developmental and infrastructure gaps.

“Regardless of which political party is governing which region, by law the finance ministry is mandated to allocate funds, hence the importance of this fund. So vote for Swanu for change,” he said.

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