Independent councillors elect not to endorse anyone
Despite confirming that they will cast their votes in this month’s presidential and National Assembly elections, three independent constituency councillors have refused to publicly endorse political parties or presidential candidates.
Rundu Rural constituency councillor Paulus Mbangu, Linyanti's Ivenne Kabunga and Judea Lyaboloma’s Humphrey Divai have separately told Namibian Sun that they will not be endorsing anyone.
The trio said they will let residents in their constituencies vote for parties and candidates of their own choosing.
Special voting is taking place today, where thousands of registered voters in the security cluster, sea-going personnel and registered voters in the diaspora are set to cast their votes.
With the local and regional council elections scheduled to take place late next year, the independent candidates somehow fear that if they endorse a political party or a candidate for the national elections, they might lose their supporters ahead of the 2025 regional council elections.
No comment
Many of the independent candidates who took part in the 2020 regional council elections are former Swapo members who were disgruntled at the time of the elections.
Mbangu, a former Swapo Party Youth League leader, who had a fallout with Swapo and decided to run as an independent, said he has not attended any rallies. His status in Swapo remains unclear.
“I remain independent. For me, I took a decision not to comment on what is happening. I am just observing,” Mbangu said.
“Let people campaign there. I have no comment. I will only campaign next year.”
Kabunga said although he has a preferred candidate and political party in mind, he will not publicly endorse them.
Vote for change
Divai, on the other hand, said although he will not publicly endorse a political party or a candidate, he encourages people to vote for change.
“Currently, we do not belong to any political party,” he said.
“So my position is that I am a leader for everyone. If I belonged to a political party, I would endorse someone, but I cannot endorse anyone.
“I just want to encourage people to go for change and what they feel will improve their livelihood. That's what we are encouraging the people to do.”
“It is their right to vote and it is their right to make their own decision. We are not influencing anyone to vote for a certain party or individual.” - [email protected]
#NamibiaDecides2024
Rundu Rural constituency councillor Paulus Mbangu, Linyanti's Ivenne Kabunga and Judea Lyaboloma’s Humphrey Divai have separately told Namibian Sun that they will not be endorsing anyone.
The trio said they will let residents in their constituencies vote for parties and candidates of their own choosing.
Special voting is taking place today, where thousands of registered voters in the security cluster, sea-going personnel and registered voters in the diaspora are set to cast their votes.
With the local and regional council elections scheduled to take place late next year, the independent candidates somehow fear that if they endorse a political party or a candidate for the national elections, they might lose their supporters ahead of the 2025 regional council elections.
No comment
Many of the independent candidates who took part in the 2020 regional council elections are former Swapo members who were disgruntled at the time of the elections.
Mbangu, a former Swapo Party Youth League leader, who had a fallout with Swapo and decided to run as an independent, said he has not attended any rallies. His status in Swapo remains unclear.
“I remain independent. For me, I took a decision not to comment on what is happening. I am just observing,” Mbangu said.
“Let people campaign there. I have no comment. I will only campaign next year.”
Kabunga said although he has a preferred candidate and political party in mind, he will not publicly endorse them.
Vote for change
Divai, on the other hand, said although he will not publicly endorse a political party or a candidate, he encourages people to vote for change.
“Currently, we do not belong to any political party,” he said.
“So my position is that I am a leader for everyone. If I belonged to a political party, I would endorse someone, but I cannot endorse anyone.
“I just want to encourage people to go for change and what they feel will improve their livelihood. That's what we are encouraging the people to do.”
“It is their right to vote and it is their right to make their own decision. We are not influencing anyone to vote for a certain party or individual.” - [email protected]
#NamibiaDecides2024
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