Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate Western Melchizedek Muharukua is the new regional councillor of Opuwo Rural Constituency. Muharukua obtained 2 330 votes in Friday's by-election. SWAPO party candidate came second, with 485 votes, while NUDO received 414, RDP ,142 and IPC 80 votes. The by-election was necessitated by the death of Cornelius Kakuva of PDM in April this year. ECN has declared Friday's poll as having been free and fair.