Staff Reporter
THE impending by-elections could mark the end of the United Democratic Front (UDF)’s dominance of the Kamanjab and Sesfontein constituencies in the Kunene Region.
Although voters elected a UDF candidate in each of the two constituencies during the 2020 regional elections, SWAPO won both during last year’s general elections, having obtained 1,454 and 1,319 votes in Kamanjab and Sesfontein respectively, against the UDF’s tally of 817 and 1,120 votes.
Unlike in the general elections, where registered voters can cast their ballots anywhere and the voter turnout is normally high, in regional elections voters can only vote in the constituency where they are registered — a factor said to contribute to low voter turnout.
By-elections are taking place in five constituencies whose councillors were elected to the National Assembly during the November 2024 general elections.
They are John Likando (Kabbe South), Elder Filipe (Grootfontein), Marlyn Mbakera (Otjiwarongo), Hendrik Gaobaeb (Sesfontein), and Nico Somaeb (Kamanjab).
Khorixas, also in the Kunene Region, is the only remaining constituency with a UDF councillor: Ignatius !Gobs.
