AN election campaign rally at Linyanti in the Zambezi region turned chaotic when supporters of independent councillor Ivenne Kabunga and Swapo members clashed, prompting investigation by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).
Kabunga has blamed Swapo members for stone throwing and a fist fight that broke out at the gathering held at Maunga village on Sunday.
A video circulating on social media shows an apparent brawl between Swapo members and Kabunga’s supporters, including two men exchanging fists.
Kabunga’s supporters, armed with sticks and stones, drove the Swapo members from the area, allegedly damaging a Swapo-flagged vehicle.
Swapo lost the Linyanti constituency during the 2020 regional council and local authority elections to Kabunga as an independent candidate.
Kabunga got 1 903 votes, while Swapo garnered 925 votes.
Kabunga, who is looking for re-election, yesterday told The Namibian that Swapo members came to the gathering wanting to dismantle the tent.
He said they violated the ECN’s code of conduct for political parties, which states they should not campaign in close vicinity of each other.
“How does anyone come to someone’s place and decide to dismantle the tent? They came to provoke us while we were busy with our meeting. Swapo members must learn to respect the rule of law. We will not be intimidated by them; this is a democratic country,” Kabunga said.
Swapo’s Linyanti constituency candidate, Progress Sipapela, says he only found out about the incident on Monday.
He says the two Swapo members allegedly went to Kabunga’s gathering to tell the campaigners they are not allowed to gather there, upon which the situation escalated.
“I don’t know how or why the two members went there, really. I was also just informed of this on Monday. Nonetheless, we were having our rally about 7km away from Kabunga’s gathering, as per the law,” Sipapela says.
He says they are peaceful campaigners and always tell their supporters to refrain from violent behaviour towards opposition members or among themselves.
“Even that very day we told them the same at our rally, and it ended peacefully. As Swapo, we believe in peaceful election campaigns, and it will remain as such,” he says.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says violence has no place in either politics or democracy.
He says it is imperative that all leaders set an example of peace so that the country’s democracy remains strong and credible.
“Those involved in such incidents must be held accountable by the police, the ECN, and their political parties. The ECN should strengthen civic education and promote peaceful campaigning.
“Furthermore, the parties and candidates must urge their supporters to show tolerance and respect. The police also need to act quickly to prevent and stop any violence. All in all, elections should be about ideas, not intimidation,” he says.
ECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka yesterday said the commission is investigating the incident.
“We are currently investigating the video to ascertain which of our stakeholders are involved. We will update the stakeholders of the outcome in due course,” he said.
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