ECN
ECN

Wydverspreide uitdagings vir Swapo

Onafhanklike kandidate versprei oor streke
Wonder Guchu
Swapo sal in al 121 kiesafdelings in die komende plaaslike owerhede- en streekraadverkiesings op 26 November 2025 meeding, wat dit die enigste politieke formasie met landswye dekking maak.

Volgens die amptelike lys van die Verkiesingskommissie van Namibië (ECN) staar die regerende party in byna elke kiesafdeling mededinging in die gesig van \\'n diverse veld van opposisiebewegings en onafhanklike kandidate – \\'n weerspieëling van die land se toenemende veelparty-demokrasie.

Naby Swapo is die Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) en die Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), wat albei kandidate in die meeste streke opgestel het en hulself as die primêre uitdagers geposisioneer.

Die IPC neem deel in 118 kiesafdelings, terwyl die PDM in 108 verteenwoordig word, wat beide partye \\'n breë nasionale voetspoor gee en die vermoë het om Swapo in byna elke hoek van die land uit te daag.

Kleiner, maar sterk politieke bewegings op streekvlak soos die Landless People\\'s Movement (LPM), Affirmative Repositioning (AR) en die Body of Christ Party (BCP) neem ook deel in sleutelkiesafdelings.

Die LPM, wat in suidelike Namibië prominent geword het, stel kandidate in ongeveer 47 kiesafdelings op, hoofsaaklik in die //Kharas-, Hardap-, Erongo-, Otjozondjupa- en Khomas-streke.

Die BCP het \\'n sterk teenwoordigheid in die noorde en verskyn in 33 kiesafdelings, veral in Ohangwena, Oshana en Oshikoto.

Die Regstellende Herposisioneringsbeweging fokus op Namibië se belangrikste stedelike sentrums, met kandidate wat in ongeveer 17 kiesafdelings staan, insluitend Katutura, Keetmanshoop, Walvisbaai en Ondangwa.

Ander partye, soos die Nasionale Demokratiese Party (NDP), die Republikeinse Party (RP) en die Verenigde Demokratiese Front (UDF), het elk verteenwoordiging in 14 tot 16 kiesafdelings, veral in Erongo, Kunene en Otjozondjupa.

Intussen neem kleiner groepe soos die People Unite for Change (PUC), All People’s Party (APP), SWANU van Namibië en die United Namibians Party (UNP) selektief deel, meestal in sentraal- en noordelike Namibië.

Die Congress of Democrats (CoD), eens \\'n parlementêre opposisieparty, neem slegs deel aan een kiesafdeling — Ongenga in Ohangwena — terwyl nuwe toetreders soos die Namibia Progressive Party (NPP) en die Action Democratic Movement (ADM) beperkte verskynings in onderskeidelik Windhoek en Okaku maak.

Nie-party deelname

Onafhanklike kandidate is oor streke versprei. \\'n Totaal van 68 onafhanklike kandidate is goedgekeur om aan die streekverkiesings deel te neem.

Hul teenwoordigheid is die sterkste in die Khomas-, Erongo-, Hardap-, Kavango-Oos- en Wes-, en //Kharas-streke — gebiede wat histories meer oop was vir nie-party politieke deelname.



Kiesafdelings soos Gobabis, Otjombinde, Rundu Rural, Dâures en Omaruru het elk onafhanklike kandidate wat beide regerende en opposisiepartye uitdaag.

Die Khomas-streek het die hoogste konsentrasie onafhanklikes, veral in Katutura Sentraal en Oos, Samora Machel, Tobias Hainyeko, en Windhoek Landelik, waar burgerlike veldtogte op dienslewering en jeugwerkloosheid gefokus het.



Die Kavango-streke toon ook sterk onafhanklike verteenwoordiging, insluitend in Mukwe, Mashare en Ncuncuni.



In die suide staan onafhanklike kandidate in Berseba, Karasburg en Rehoboth, terwyl die noordooste onafhanklikes in Kongola, Linyanti en Judea Lyaboloma bevat.



Die Khomas-streek tree na vore as die mees mededingende gebied in die land, met tot nege partye wat in sommige kiesafdelings meeding.



In Katutura Sentraal, Samora Machel en Khomasdal sal kiesers kies uit \\'n oorvol stembrief met Swapo, IPC, PDM, LPM, AR, UDF, RP en verskeie onafhanklikes.



In die noordelike streke van Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto en Omusati – tradisionele Swapo-vestings – neem opposisie toe deur gekoördineerde pogings deur die IPC, BCP en NEFF.

In Erongo is politieke diversiteit duidelik, met Swapo, IPC, PDM, UDF en LPM wat sy aan sy meeding in Arandis, Swakopmund en Omaruru.

Die //Kharas-streek, lank beskou as LPM-gebied, sien steeds kompetisie van Swapo, IPC en PDM, veral in Berseba, Keetmanshoop en Karasburg.

In die Kavango-streke bly plaaslike dinamika vloeibaar, met onafhanklike kandidate soos Rundu Rural se Paulus Mbangu – wat in 2020 as onafhanklike kandidaat gewen het – wat weereens \\'n verskuiwing na gemeenskapsgebaseerde verteenwoordiging beklemtoon.

In totaal het Namibië 25 geregistreerde politieke partye en 29 geregistreerde verenigings of organisasies by die Verkiesingskommissie, hoewel slegs 20 politieke partye in vanjaar se streekverkiesings meeding.

Die ECN het die wye reeks deelnemers beskryf as bewys van \\"\\'n verdieping van Namibië se veelparty-demokrasie op grondvlak.\\"

Met 1 499 449 geregistreerde kiesers wat na verwagting hul stembriewe vir verteenwoordigers in 14 streekrade en 57 plaaslike owerhede sal uitbring, sal die 2025-verkiesings beide politieke uithouvermoë en die sterkte van plaaslike strukture toets.



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The Swapo Party will contest all 121 constituencies in the forthcoming Regional Council elections on 26 November 2025, making it the only political formation with nationwide coverage.

According to the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s official list, the governing party faces competition in almost every constituency from a diverse field of opposition movements and independent candidates — a reflection of the country’s deepening multiparty democracy.

Close behind Swapo are the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), both of which have fielded candidates across most regions, positioning themselves as the primary challengers.

The IPC is contesting in 118 constituencies, while the PDM is represented in 108, giving both parties a broad national footprint and the ability to challenge Swapo in nearly every corner of the country.

Smaller but regionally strong political movements such as the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Affirmative Repositioning (AR), and the Body of Christ Party (BCP) are also contesting in key constituencies.

The LPM, which rose to prominence in southern Namibia, is fielding candidates in about 47 constituencies, mainly in the //Kharas, Hardap, Erongo, Otjozondjupa, and Khomas regions.

The BCP has a strong presence in the north, appearing in 33 constituencies, particularly in Ohangwena, Oshana, and Oshikoto.

The Affirmative Repositioning Movement is focusing on Namibia’s major urban centres, with candidates running in about 17 constituencies, including Katutura, Keetmanshoop, Walvis Bay, and Ondangwa.

Other parties, such as the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Republican Party (RP), and the United Democratic Front (UDF), each have representation in 14 to 16 constituencies, particularly in Erongo, Kunene, and Otjozondjupa.

Meanwhile, smaller groups like the People Unite for Change (PUC), All People’s Party (APP), SWANU of Namibia, and the United Namibians Party (UNP) are contesting selectively, mostly in central and northern Namibia.

The Congress of Democrats (CoD), once a parliamentary opposition party, is contesting only one constituency — Ongenga in Ohangwena — while new entrants such as the Namibia Progressive Party (NPP) and the Action Democratic Movement (ADM) are making limited appearances in Windhoek and Okaku, respectively.

Non-party participation

Independent candidates are spread across regions. A total of 68 independent candidates have been cleared to contest the regional elections.

Their presence is strongest in the Khomas, Erongo, Hardap, Kavango East and West, and //Kharas regions — areas that have historically been more open to non-party political participation.

Constituencies such as Gobabis, Otjombinde, Rundu Rural, Dâures, and Omaruru each feature independent contenders challenging both ruling and opposition parties.

The Khomas Region has the highest concentration of independents, particularly in Katutura Central and East, Samora Machel, Tobias Hainyeko, and Windhoek Rural, where civic-based campaigns have focused on service delivery and youth unemployment.

The Kavango regions also show strong independent representation, including in Mukwe, Mashare, and Ncuncuni.

In the south, independent candidates are standing in Berseba, Karasburg, and Rehoboth, while the north-east features independents in Kongola, Linyanti, and Judea Lyaboloma.

The Khomas Region emerges as the most competitive area in the country, with up to nine parties contesting in some constituencies.

In Katutura Central, Samora Machel, and Khomasdal, voters will choose from a crowded ballot featuring Swapo, IPC, PDM, LPM, AR, UDF, RP, and several independents.

In the northern regions of Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, and Omusati — traditional Swapo strongholds — opposition is mounting through coordinated efforts by the IPC, BCP, and NEFF.

In Erongo, political diversity is evident, with Swapo, IPC, PDM, UDF, and LPM contesting side by side in Arandis, Swakopmund, and Omaruru.

The //Kharas Region, long regarded as LPM territory, continues to see competition from Swapo, IPC, and PDM, particularly in Berseba, Keetmanshoop, and Karasburg.

In the Kavango regions, local dynamics remain fluid, with independent candidates such as Rundu Rural’s Paulus Mbangu — who won as an independent in 2020 — once again highlighting a shift toward community-based representation.

In total, Namibia has 25 registered political parties and 29 registered associations or organisations with the Electoral Commission, though only 20 political parties are contesting in this year’s regional elections.

The ECN described the wide range of contestants as evidence of “a deepening of Namibia’s multiparty democracy at grassroots level.”

With 1 499 449 registered voters expected to cast their ballots for representatives in 14 regional councils and 57 local authorities, the 2025 elections will test both political endurance and the strength of local structures.

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Republikein 2025-12-21

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