Mumbala: Swapo expected to win ||Kharas as voters reject ‘unfulfilled promises’

Swapo’s ||Kharas regional coordinator, Matthew Mumbala, says the party is poised for a strong comeback in the region, claiming the electorate has turned away from the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) due to unmet expectations following the 2020 elections.

Based on preliminary results from Wednesday’s elections, Swapo is expected to win six of the seven constituencies in ||Kharas – Keetmanshoop Urban and Rural, Karasburg East and West, Berseba, and Oranjemund – with the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leading in !Nami-#Nus.

Mumbala believes the shift comes as voters reassess what he describes as a lack of tangible development under LPM’s leadership.

“The anger of the electorate for promises made by the Landless People’s Movement in 2020 and not met has returned the voters to the Swapo camp,” he told The Namibian on Thursday.

He said the expected win is not surprising, arguing that residents saw no meaningful progress during LPM’s tenure.

“There were no tangible projects to create jobs and uplift the masses from poverty. For years, the ||Kharas Regional Council operated without a management committee, something unprecedented during Swapo’s time,” he said.

Mumbala also criticised what he referred to as poor governance at local authority level.

“Most of the time during their reign, the LPM spent in court, instead of driving development for the people. How do you expect to uplift the livelihood of people, which is what you promised them, but you are just in court?” he asked.

He added that instability in leadership roles further hindered service delivery.

“Look at local authorities: they have no substantive chief executive officers (CEOs). What type of leadership is that? How do you plan and execute, and who is accountable? Aroab is without a CEO, Karasburg, Lüderitz, Keetmanshoop – key municipalities have acting chief executive officers,” he said.

In the 2020 regional elections, LPM dominated the ||Kharas region, winning four out of seven constituencies.

Mumbala says the current trend reflects a renewed trust in Swapo.

“People have realised who can deliver and who cannot. That is why they are coming back,” he said.

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