Obrein Simasiku
Swapo’s Oshikoto regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu has backtracked on his 2017 decision to not contest again for regional coordinator at the seventh elective conference for the renewal of mandates.
The incumbent coordinator has however indicated that he will stand to serve for third term, saying “I am back by popular demand, the masses have requested for my service again”.
He added that, “as a bona fide and Swapo political soldier, you can never deny or reject a responsibility when entrusted by your own people and above all the Swapo Party.”
The Oshikoto regional conference is slated for tomorrow, where Amukwiyu will battle it out with little known politician Ntinda Andreas for the most influential political position in the region.
Amukwiyu said, the rank and file leadership in the region lobbied for him, further augmenting that, this move should not only be viewed as an election process, but rather an exercise that values service delivery and carrying out the party’s activities proactively.
“It is all about providing the much needed service to community, implementing the party’s ideology, rules and constitution including activities that promote the welfare of the party and its members at large,” he stressed.
Amukwiyu, is regarded as a unifier having managed to restore peace and unity which was shuttered by the 2017 political factions of Team Harambee and Team Swapo. Team Swapo lost dismally at the 6th National Congress where, Amukwiyu vied for the post of Secretary General.
Since then there have been a chorus of peace appeals, as all the belligerent parties resolved to bury the hatchet.
Meanwhile, former Oshikoto Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) secretary, Josef Katukula, who is lobbying for the regional treasurer position, says his is the best candidate as he brings youth innovation.
In addition, he says he is blessed with business acumen that would really help the party in being financially self-reliant.
“Things have changed, it’s not like in the past where a treasurer will have to do fundraising by hosting a braai. But now its’s all about business prudence, innovative ways of sourcing income under the blue economy era,” he boasts. Katukula says one of the intervention he hopes to implement is to establish a company that will conduct all sorts of business for the regional office sustainability.
“Things are decentralised and no longer dependable on the headquarter for everything, hence we need to be smart. Therefore, business initiatives will enable us to fund regional operations as well as provide payment to our grassroots cadres such as those at section, branch and district level. These are our valued members, foot soldiers doing everything selflessly for the benefit of the Swapo Party,” stressed Katukula, adding radical transformation and economic emancipation are his principles
Katukula is not new to politics having served as section, branch and district coordinator at Tsumeb before ascending to become SPYL secretary in 2017.
“With my wealth of political experience having been groomed through the ranks and file of the party, the members saw it fit to nominate me because they understand the value and my capabilities.”
For the regional information and mobilisation, incumbent Sarah Shikokola will compete against veteran politician Hendrina Kandjala-Nzwala and Aina Shilongo.
Windhoek Observer could however not obtain a vetted list of all candidates vying for various positions by the time of going to print.
