Politics
Themistokles Dudu Murorua, a member of the United Democratic Front, has been governor of Kunene Region since 2005. A rivalry exists between the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) and the UDF. In November 2008, SWAPO activists and politicians called for organization to "destroy" the UDF government in Kunene. SWAPO also claimed the UDF and DTA were "sabotaging" local government initiatives in the region due to incompetence.
Central to the politics of Kunene Region is the battle over the proposed Epupa Dam in Epupa Constituency near the border with Angola. Business leaders based in Opuwo, who are mostly Ovambo, formed the Kaoko Development League which supports the proposed dam. The dam would bring in economic development to much of the Region but would interfere with the traditional way of life of the Himba people who reside in the area. A longtime rivalry exists between SWAPO and the Himba people.
In the 2004 election for the National Assembly of Namibia, voters in Kunene Region supported numerous parties. The UDF earned the party's single highest vote total and 22.19% of the party's national vote total in the region. The only members of the 3rd National Council of Namibia, which is created by appointments from every regional council, who are not members of SWAPO were chosen by the Kunene Regional Council. These Councillors are Sebastian Ignatius !Gobs of the UDF and Ngohauvi Lydia Kavetu of the DTA.
Read more about this topic: Kunene Region
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