Job’s mayoral dream comes true
Along-cherished dream of becoming the number one resident of the City of Windhoek was realised yesterday by youth activist and academic Job Amupanda.
An emotional Amupanda shed tears after he was confirmed as mayor of the City of Windhoek during a special council meeting.
The Affirmative Repositioning leader, who is also employed at the University of Namibia as the deputy dean in the Faculty of Economics and Management Science, was yesterday given the nod by fellow city councillors to lead the 15- member council, while Clemenencia Hanases of the Popular Democratic Movement was named deputy mayor.
AR gained two council seats during last week’s local authority elections.
In his acceptance speech, Amupanda promised to treat all residents equally, without discrimination.
“We are not going to prioritise the need of anybody, everybody else as the resident of the city will have the same rights. The governor who is sitting behind me here if she doesn’t pay her water bill, we must be able to cut her water the same way we will do with other citizens,” Amupanda said to loud cheers.
He also promised to address issues of housing and service delivery, which he said has been lacking over the years.
Amupanda thanked Namibians for exercising their democratic right and choo s i ng the i r representatives through a process he described as free and fair.
“I also just want to thank each one of you who ran campaigns because you see for quite a long time politics was becoming boring,” he said.
PDM leader McHenry Venaani said Amupanda represents the broader coalition and he will work in the interest of the people and the country during his tenure as mayor.
“Job is a reasonable person who understands bread and butter issues. He will work with the joint manifesto of the party and I wish him well,” Venaani said.
Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) president Mike Kavekotora yesterday congratulated Amupanda for being elected as city mayor, saying he had a massive responsibility, including abiding by the rules.
“I want to congratulate him for being elected as the mayor. I wish he will fulfil the promises he made to the residents during his campaigns,” Kavekotora said.
Former mayor Muesee Kazapua also congratulated Amupanda, wishing him all the best of luck in the new position.
“For me is just to congratulate him as the new mayor because that is democracy and that was the outcome of the will of the people. It has been his dream and aspiration all these years. I hope he will address the issues such as housing, service delivery that he promised,” he said.
The meeting also saw Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and former strategic executive at the City of Windhoek, Fillemon Hambuda being elected as the management committee chairperson.
Other members of the management committee include National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) councillor Joseph Uapingene, IPC’s Desiree Davids and Ndeshihafela Larandje as well as llse Keister of AR.
All Swapo councillors, including former mayor Fransina Kahungu, will serve as ordinary councillors. The ordinary councillors include Queen Kamati, Austin Kwenani, Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma and Magdalena Lombardt. Ivan Skrywer and Sade Gawanas of the Landless People’s Movement as well as Hendrik Araeb of IPC are the other ordinary councillors.