Kauandenge exits Nudo, forms association focusing on local government Former Nudo secretary general Joseph Kauandenge says he is no longer a member of the National United Democratic Organisation (Nudo), and has formed his own association. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kauandenge said Nudo’s political landscape no longer prioritises serving the interests of the Namibian people. His statement comes a week after he stepped down as secretary general of the party, while stating at the time that he remained a member. However, on Tuesday, the former secretary general said he is no longer a member, and that he has registered the Association for Localised Interests (Asoli) with the Electoral Commission of Namibia to enter into and focus on local government politics. The association is expected to be launched this Friday. Kauandenge said it was a question of whether his personal vision and his vision for the country aligned with that of Nudo, and that “after more than 25 years”, the answer was a resounding: “No.” “There are currently groupings in Nudo that are claiming leadership of the party and this is affecting the party in the long run. So I thought, can we do something new, something fresh, something that will drive young voters to come and vote? But unfortunately that will not be through Nudo. Because Nudo is embroiled in disputes and in-fighting,” said Kauandenge. Last year, Kauandenge announced he would run for Nudo president during the party’s July congress but later withdrew, with many believing his decision to withdraw from running for the party’s top job was likely forced. At the time, former Namibia Football Association secretary general Barry Rukoro questioned why Kauandenge was running for the position while holding the secretary general position. At the time, Rukoro said Kauandenge was faced with a conflict of interest and was using his position as secretary general to push him (Rukoro) out of the running for party president. “He is a young and capable man who could have helped us rebuild the party and make it much more attractive for the younger generation of voters if he stayed, but now that he has taken that decision, we must all respect it,” said Rukoro. Kauandenge previously said Rukoro was not a card-carrying member of the party and cannot stand for election to a leadership position. VISION FOR WINDHOEK Kauandenge said Asoli’s campaigning will be confined to the area of the City of Windhoek as the association plans to contest in this year’s regional and local authority elections for the Windhoek Municipal Council. He said Asoli has identified certain weaknesses in the municipality of Windhoek such as alleged leadership vacuums when political parties fail to elect political office bearers for months, and the alleged failure of council members to work collaboratively, ultimately depriving citizens of municipal services. “We want to help the City of Windhoek through entering this year’s election and trying to make sure fights do not happen,” he said. Former Nudo president Esther Muinjangue also recently resigned from her position as leader of the party, citing threats by party members who allegedly protested that they would not vote for the party if she contested for a parliamentary seat. In 2020, she was appointed as a deputy minister of health by late president Hage Geingob. Muinjangue occupied one of the party’s two seats in parliament alongside Kauandenge. Nudo won one seat in the National Assembly following the 2024 election, which is currently occupied by former Okakarara constituency councillor Vetaruhe Kandorozu. The post Kauandenge exits Nudo, forms association focusing on local government appeared first on The Namibian.

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Kauandenge resigns as Nudo secretary general National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) secretary general Joseph Kauandenge has announced his resignation from the position. Kauandenge made the announcement in a letter addressed to Nudo president Esther Muinjangue on Wednesday. He did not give a reason for his decision. Kauandenge said he will officially tender his resignation at the party’s upcoming national executive committee meeting on Saturday. “I hereby would like to take this opportunity to inform you officially that I will tender in my resignation as the secretary general of Nudo at our upcoming national executive committee meeting slated for this weekend on 26 April in Windhoek,” the letter read. Kauandenge said it has been almost 22 years since he stood firmly behind late Nudo president Kuaima Riruako in 2003, when he pulled Nudo out of the then Democratic Turnhalle Alliance. “I went on to become the youngest Nudo secretary general at the age of 27 in 2004 at Toasis at our congress. “Since my birth I have committed myself to serve people as a calling and I have thrived throughout in all the positions I was given. However, there comes a time when you realise that your vision and foresight does not align anymore with the movement you have been serving, and allow others to continue with the task of leadership. That time for me is now,” Kauandenge said. He added that although he will relinquish his position as secretary general, he still remains an ordinary member of the party that “I love dearly.” “It will not serve any purpose for me to go into detail of why I’m resigning and to list all my grievances here, because I don’t believe that once the romance or marriage is over, now you must start insulting and castigating the party in the media. I simply believe that shows weak leadership on you part and lack of character as a leader,” he said The post Kauandenge resigns as Nudo secretary general appeared first on The Namibian.

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