Nehova’s chances slim: sources

SWAPO members who plan to protest against the party leadership in the Oshana Region today are unlikely to get National Council Chairperson Kandy Nehova returned to the Regional Council, sources say.

Officials in the ruling party, including people who attended the Ongwediva district conference where Nehova was reportedly voted out, say there does not appear to be grounds for the top leadership of Swapo to overturn the outcome. Nehova was allegedly voted out after his supporters walked out with him and boycotted the elections, disputing the legitimacy of some delegates.But some sources claim only a few branches walked out.Nehova’s supporters insist that nearly half of the 13 branches boycotted the voting.Those who remained claim that the conference, attended by Regional, Local Government and Housing Minister Joel Kaapanda and Deputy Minister of Lands Isak Katali, had formed a quorum.Supporters of the National Council Chairperson accuse Swapo’s Oshana Regional Co-ordinator, Erastus Uutoni, of setting up branches as a manoeuvre to oust Nehova.Nehova has also been accused of a belated attempt to set up new branches in the rural Ongwediva constituency to ensure his re-election in an ongoing power struggle with Uutoni.Uutoni was voted out of the Ongwediva Town Council in May, in elections that were declared “free and fair”, allegedly, some say, because of Nehova’s plotting.Uutoni was re-instated following the intervention of the Swapo Politburo.”It’s a pure power struggle, and Kandy didn’t organise himself this time,” claimed one of the people who attended the meeting.The protesters, under the leadership of Ongwediva District Co-ordinator for Swapo, Samuel Nanguti, had planned to march yesterday.The march was later re-scheduled for today.The protesters hope to force the ruling party to annul the district conference voting on Friday.Swapo Publicity Secretary Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said she could not comment about the Ongwediva controversy because a report had yet to be sent to the party head office.Unless changes are made, Nehova will have to contend with being an ordinary citizen since he became a lawmaker 12 years ago.Nehova was allegedly voted out after his supporters walked out with him and boycotted the elections, disputing the legitimacy of some delegates.But some sources claim only a few branches walked out.Nehova’s supporters insist that nearly half of the 13 branches boycotted the voting.Those who remained claim that the conference, attended by Regional, Local Government and Housing Minister Joel Kaapanda and Deputy Minister of Lands Isak Katali, had formed a quorum.Supporters of the National Council Chairperson accuse Swapo’s Oshana Regional Co-ordinator, Erastus Uutoni, of setting up branches as a manoeuvre to oust Nehova.Nehova has also been accused of a belated attempt to set up new branches in the rural Ongwediva constituency to ensure his re-election in an ongoing power struggle with Uutoni.Uutoni was voted out of the Ongwediva Town Council in May, in elections that were declared “free and fair”, allegedly, some say, because of Nehova’s plotting.Uutoni was re-instated following the intervention of the Swapo Politburo.”It’s a pure power struggle, and Kandy didn’t organise himself this time,” claimed one of the people who attended the meeting.The protesters, under the leadership of Ongwediva District Co-ordinator for Swapo, Samuel Nanguti, had planned to march yesterday.The march was later re-scheduled for today.The protesters hope to force the ruling party to annul the district conference voting on Friday.Swapo Publicity Secretary Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said she could not comment about the Ongwediva controversy because a report had yet to be sent to the party head office.Unless changes are made, Nehova will have to contend with being an ordinary citizen since he became a lawmaker 12 years ago.