Retired Namibian police spokesperson Edwin Iheka Kanguatjivi has entered the race for the Otjombinde Constituency councillor position under the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) banner ahead of the upcoming regional elections.
This marks Kanguatjivi’s second attempt to represent the constituency, having previously contested in 2004 as a candidate for the National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO) before switching allegiance to PDM in 2023.
Kanguatjivi, who describes himself as a “child of political upbringing” shaped by his years in exile, said his campaign will focus on improving communication infrastructure, upgrading rural roads, and bringing government services closer to residents through the establishment of a satellite office in the constituency.
He noted that many residents currently have to travel over 300 kilometres to Talismanus, the constituency’s administrative seat, to access basic services.
If elected, Kanguatjivi also plans to negotiate better livestock prices to protect local farmers from exploitation, and to tackle cross-border stock theft along the Botswana-Namibia boundary.
Additionally, he pledged to champion greater inclusion of the San community in regional structures, saying they are often sidelined except during election campaigns.
“Are they not even capable of being cleaners in constituency offices, or if there is one educated, a secretary?” he questioned, calling for fair representation of San people in local government.
Kanguatjivi believes his two decades of public service experience give him an edge over other candidates, citing his deep understanding of budgeting, procurement, and disciplinary processes within government institutions.
