POPULAR Democratic movement (PDM) took the Opuwo rural Constituency in yesterday’s regional council by-elections with an outright majority.
Cornelius Uaurikua Kakuva won the elections with 2066 votes, while the other two candidates Kapukatua Kuvare of NUDO obtained 640 votes and Swapo party’s Steyn Uauirako Katupa 435, in an election were ballot papers were reintroduced.
The use ballot papers, as opposed to Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) follows the Supreme Court ruling on 5 February that the use of EVMs without a voter verifiable paper audit trail was unconstitutional.
ECN Election returning officer for Opuwo rural constituency says that the voters where comfortable using the ballot papers
“The election went well. The process of counting is the one that is a bit tiring because we have to count the ballots one by one but all parties where happy in the end with the election come,” Mike Nganyone.
The final result was released this morning because some of the mobile team travelled into difficult terrain with bad roads.
“The challenges were especially going into far fetching areas, the remote areas with difficult terrains. We were waiting for those vehicles that have travelled far. We had sent out six teams that travelled two days earlier because those area are far and very remote. That’s the reason why we released the results at that hour,” said the Nganyone.
PDM’s Kunene North regional coordinator, Karitjindua Hepute said his party is happy with the election’s outcomes. He said the elected candidate will have to work hard to bring change to the people.
“Opuwo rural constituency is behind with development, there are no roads, water of health facilities. in that regard PDM is going to work very hard to bring about change for the people in this constituency,” said Hepute.
The swearing in of Kakuva will be confirmed on Thursday after the Regional council management meeting.
The position for Opuwo Rural constituency councillor fell vacant after Kazeongere Tjeundo, who is on the PDM party list for the National Assembly and resigned in December 2019.
