UDF, Swapo occasional bedfellows – Auchab

United Democratic Front (UDF) president Apius Auchab says his party throws its weight behind the ruling party during elections in various local authority councils depending on the prevailing situation.

This decision is guided by “the situation on the ground,” he says, boosting the ruling party’s chances of netting votes and exerting more influence.

Speaking to Desert Radio this week, Auchab said: “Being on a town council or municipality is to render services to the people.

We do not have a coalition, but a working relationship with the councillors, who then join hands to ensure the facilitation of things for the benefit of the masses. It’s working well.”

He said there is significant progress.

Auchab said wherever opposition parties lead local authorities, problems follow, citing the Windhoek City Council as an example.

“These people have no direction. Are you telling me this should be the situation all over?” he asked.

He said the UDF, however, does not support Swapo at every municipality.

“We look at the maturity of the councillors who are there and their vision,” he said.

“There is a vast diversity in the working relationships we have with the parties. It is not only us. Even the Popular Democratic Movement is working with Swapo in the south,” Auchab said.

ELECTIVE CONGRESS

Following his endorsement by a branch at Usakos over the weekend, Auchab is now set to battle it out with fellow member of parliament Dudu Murorua for the presidential seat of the party towards the end of this month.

The victor will represent the party in the 2024 presidential elections.

He has been at the helm of the party since he took over from its founding president, Justus Garoëb, at the party’s 2013 congress.

Auchab said he is contesting for the position due to the fact that the group was previously run as a front, but has since transformed into a political party.

“As such, we established a committee to look into the three different constitutions that were there and realised they all speak to the governance of a front, thus they were changed into a party constitution in 2019,” he said, adding this constitution was signed by the party president, his deputy and its secretary general.

“As you know, a law goes into operation on the day it is signed and endorsed. The first people who entered the parliament after 2013 did not serve a constitutional term, but the term from 2019 up to now is constitutional,” Auchab said.

The elective congress will take place from 24 to 26 November.

This will mark the second UDF congress after Garoëb left office.

TRIBAL TAG

Auchab said the party is moving towards shaking off the label of being a tribal movement.

“That tag is wrongly placed on the UDF. For example, it is Murorua and Auchab who are contesting for the presidency. Murorua is not a Damara surname, so how can UDF be a Damara party?” he asked.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.