By Stefanus Nashama
Long-serving former Okatyali constituency councillor in the Oshana region, Joseph Mupetami has accused the SWAPO Party district leadership of undermining his work during his time in office and deliberately plotting to his failure.
Mupetami became a councillor in 1998, at the age of 28 and served for a period of 27 consecutive years.
He however, lost his bid to return to office during a SWAPO district primary election in 2025 to a youthful Johannes Philipus.
At the time, Mupetami gracefully accepted defeat, maintaining that the out- come was inline with the party’s constitution.
Speaking to Confidente recently, revealed that it was in actual fact, his own party cadres who connived against him and worked tirelessly to ensure that his programmes and initiatives are not successful.
“Many times, I have noticed and realized that the SWAPO office in our constituency was against my work trying to paint a bad image around me and make me look bad to the community,” he said.
However, he notes that those who wanted him fail never succeeded, as he was always there to serve people and not interest of certain individuals within the party.
“It is good that I am no longer a councillor. I hate being undermined of what is not true.” Mupetami added that people love him because of what he has done for the constituency, not because he was a councilor or is a politician.
Mupetami declared his readiness for any opportunity if given, as long he would not take up someone’s position. He also indicated that if the people of Okatyali want him back, he would not hesitate to return.
“The people of Okayali did not fire me or dismiss me, neither did I throw in the towel. I only exited through the party’s constitutional obligations. If they want me back, I have no problem with coming back.”
SWAPO’s Oshana regional coordinator, Sam Nangolo said if the district leadership was against Mupetami’s work, maybe it was during the time when he was not re-elected.
“I did not notice anything like that. What I know is that SWAPO councilors work on the party’ manifesto. I do not want to comment on things that I do not know. All I am saying is that let us open a new chapter and continue serving the people,” Nangolo explained.
He added that Mupetami is a leader that the party would still need, due to his experience and good political influence.
“I respect and trust Mupetami. I look at him as my broth- er. He is a good person to work with. Let us not look in the past. We should unite and move forward.”
Meanwhile, SWAPO deputy secretary general, Uahekua Herunga said: “I am traveling. I am unable to comment now.”
