Oshana elects candidates to the ‘pot’

Swapo in the Oshana region has elected two candidates and four delegates to participate in the upcoming party electoral college slated for September.

The six were elected during the region’s extraordinary conference held at Oshakati on Saturday.

The two candidates representing the region are Modestus Ashipala and Katrina Shimbulu.

Ashipala received 64 out of 78 votes in the male group, while Shimbulu won 463 votes in the female group.

Oshana governor Elia Irimari lost out to Ashipala on a margin of 45 votes.

Shimbulu is a former Oshakati Town Council management committee chairperson.

The two candidates took the spot to the college, also known as the ‘pot’.

Shimbulu told The Namibian that she is thankful to have been elected to represent the region, saying that it shows people still have trust in her.

“For me to be elected out of so many women to represent the region to the ‘pot’ shows how much my fellow party members have trust in me and I am so thankful. There is still a long process to go but I am truly thankful for the vote and trust from my fellow party members,” she says.

The delegates to represent the Oshana region at the electoral college are Selma Iipumbu, Maria Amutenya, Thikameni Hipunduka and Absalom Itamalo.

Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa says the party is in the process of identifying candidates for the electoral college through its internal democratic process.

“After the electoral college, we will present to you the party candidates for the National Assembly. We will, therefore, identify true, trusted and tested cadres that understand the party political programme, manifesto and the party policies and procedures as developed over time.

We must deliberately infuse the young blood and consider gender representation to ensure women participation in leadership positions,” she says.

The college will have over 200 delegates who will convene to decide on the party’s list for the next National Assembly.