Shaningwa fires Swapo Zambezi treasurer Mukwata over independent candidacy registration

Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa on Wednesday expelled the party’s Zambezi regional treasurer, Morven Mukwata, after he registered to contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming regional council and local authority elections.

Mukwata is contesting for the Judea Lyaboloma constituency post.

“This communique serves to inform your good self that by registering as an independent candidate in the Judea Lyaboloma constituency to contest against Swapo’s candidate, you have consequently excommunicated yourself as a member of the party, pursuant to Article 6 (1)(b) of the Swapo party constitution,” a letter addressed to Mukwata reads.

Shaningwa in the letter indicated that Mukwata has ceased to be Swapo’s regional treasurer for the Zambezi region and is removed from any other position he may have had in the party structures.

The party changed its constitution at the 2020 party congress after Panduleni Itula, the leader of the Independent Patriots for Change, contested as an independent candidate to battle against Swapo in the presidential election.

The party’s constitution now prohibits any member from running against it in elections as an independent candidate, and those who do so are automatically expelled from the party.

Not long ago, Swapo excommunicated its former Oniipa Town Council mayor, Jafet Augustus, who registered as an independent candidate for the Oniipa constituency.

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