Opposition seeks to muscle out Swapo in hung municipalities

THE Congress of Democrats, the DTA and the United Democratic Front (UDF) have agreed to join forces to take over the running of 12 local authorities.

With the Local Authority election results barely 12 hours old, the three parties got out of the starting blocks quickly yesterday to forge cross-party co-operation. The CoD’s Ben Ulenga, Katuutire Kaura of the DTA and the UDF’s Justus //Garoeb met in Windhoek to discuss the outcome of Friday’s elections and plot the way forward.In a statement signed by the three, they said they had “agreed to work together and to take over the running” of Karibib, Usakos, Uis, Gochas, Gibeon, Kalkrand, Aroab, Bethanie, Kamanjab, Khorixas, Opuwo and Outjo.Approached for comment, DTA Administrative Secretary Rudolph Kamburona said:”It is normal …we have done it in the past in towns like Keetmanshoop.”He described the negotiations as “fruitful and frank”, adding that everyone had found it necessary.The agreement will be seen as a blow to Swapo which has, in the past, ruled the roost at Karibib, Gochas, Gibeon, Bethanie, and Outjo, and this time round made inroads at Usakos, Kalkrand, Kamanjab and Opuwo.The three leaders said they were still negotiating about possibly teaming up with the Henties Bay Civic Association, National Unity Democratic Organisation, Republican Party and the Omaruru Residents Association.Successful coalition negotiations at local authority level with these groups would mean that Swapo would not have the final say in the running of Henties Bay, Omaruru, Keetmanshoop, Leonardville and Okakarara.”We are working hard to meet the Wednesday deadline,” Kamburona said.Most new Local Authority councillors are expected to be sworn in tomorrow.Swapo previously had five seats at Karibib, but in Friday’s elections secured only three seats.The UDF (2), CoD (1) and the DTA (1) took the others.Opposition parties also turned the tables on the ruling party at Gibeon, where Swapo found itself stripped of two seats – down from four seats to two.This scenario was repeated at Gochas.The Republican Party’s Carola Engelbrecht confirmed that the party had been approached by some parties and was open to negotiations.”We have until Wednesday [tomorrow] to have discussions with any party, but we are not there just for the sake of opposition.It is not good enough.We look at issues before we decide,” Engelbrecht emphasised.However, she felt it was important to keep Swapo out of management committees where possible.”The opposition must pool their resources to run the local authorities wherever they can,” Engelbrecht said.The CoD’s Ben Ulenga, Katuutire Kaura of the DTA and the UDF’s Justus //Garoeb met in Windhoek to discuss the outcome of Friday’s elections and plot the way forward.In a statement signed by the three, they said they had “agreed to work together and to take over the running” of Karibib, Usakos, Uis, Gochas, Gibeon, Kalkrand, Aroab, Bethanie, Kamanjab, Khorixas, Opuwo and Outjo.Approached for comment, DTA Administrative Secretary Rudolph Kamburona said:”It is normal …we have done it in the past in towns like Keetmanshoop.”He described the negotiations as “fruitful and frank”, adding that everyone had found it necessary.The agreement will be seen as a blow to Swapo which has, in the past, ruled the roost at Karibib, Gochas, Gibeon, Bethanie, and Outjo, and this time round made inroads at Usakos, Kalkrand, Kamanjab and Opuwo.The three leaders said they were still negotiating about possibly teaming up with the Henties Bay Civic Association, National Unity Democratic Organisation, Republican Party and the Omaruru Residents Association.Successful coalition negotiations at local authority level with these groups would mean that Swapo would not have the final say in the running of Henties Bay, Omaruru, Keetmanshoop, Leonardville and Okakarara.”We are working hard to meet the Wednesday deadline,” Kamburona said.Most new Local Authority councillors are expected to be sworn in tomorrow.Swapo previously had five seats at Karibib, but in Friday’s elections secured only three seats.The UDF (2), CoD (1) and the DTA (1) took the others.Opposition parties also turned the tables on the ruling party at Gibeon, where Swapo found itself stripped of two seats – down from four seats to two.This scenario was repeated at Gochas.The Republican Party’s Carola Engelbrecht confirmed that the party had been approached by some parties and was open to negotiations.”We have until Wednesday [tomorrow] to have discussions with any party, but we are not there just for the sake of opposition.It is not good enough.We look at issues before we decide,” Engelbrecht emphasised.However, she felt it was important to keep Swapo out of management committees where possible.”The opposition must pool their resources to run the local authorities wherever they can,” Engelbrecht said.