By: Annakleta Haikera
The Kavango regions have produced three Independent Candidates who successfully secured seats in the 2025 Regional Council Elections.
Two of the independent candidates are from Kavango East and, for the first time, one in Kavango West, marking a political shift in a region long dominated by traditional party structures.
The elected independents emerged from Rundu Rural Constituency, Mashare Constituency, and Ncuncuni Constituency, respectively.
Nationally, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) confirmed that 68 independent candidates contested the 2025 elections, with six winning seats countrywide.
Notably, Kavango East recorded the highest number of independent contestants nationally, with 10 independents registered in the region this year. This places the Kavango regions among the strongest contributors to the rise of non-party-aligned leadership in Namibia.
Among the three Kavango independents, Paulus Nginga Mbangu obtained the highest votes in his constituency, followed by Peter Kashumali and Michael Naiteta.
During the swearing-in ceremony on Friday in Kavango East, both Mbangu (Rundu Rural) and Kashumali (Mashare) were appointed to the Regional Management Committee, a development that strengthens the presence of independent voices within regional leadership structures.
Meanwhile, in Kavango West, Michael Naiteta, who won in Ncuncuni Constituency, was sworn in as an ordinary councillor, becoming the first independent in that region to secure a seat.
CONTROVERSY DURING THE SWEARING-IN
In a twist during the proceedings, Mbangu initially declined his appointment to the Management Committee, prompting officials to temporarily adjourn the session for further discussions.
Despite his hesitation, he ultimately accepted the position, but declared that “The voice of the people has been stifled.”
In mentioning that the democratic principles had been cannibalised, Mbangu added that he and his fellow independents received some of the highest votes in the region, yet decisions around committee placements appeared to be influenced by political considerations outside the will of the electorate.
According to reports, the rise of independent winners in Kavango East and West mirrors a national pattern, where communities increasingly support candidates based on merit, accountability, and local service, rather than party affiliation.
With three out of the six independent winners in Namibia coming from the Kavango regions, 2025 marks a political turning point, one that signals voter appetite for fresh leadership and a challenge to long-standing political dominance in both Kavango East and West.
