The Swapo Party regional office in Zambezi was a scene of unhappiness after some members were left upset over the changed outcome of the district elections held last month.

The unhappiness surfaced after a directive to follow the political party's 50-50 gender representation policy following last month's elections for the positions of district information and mobilisation officer, district coordinator, and treasurer in the Katima Mulilo urban district.

John Ntemwa, the now-former district information mobilisation officer, won the vote after pulling off more than 90 votes to retain his position.

But Nsala Muhongo was eventually handed the position.

Lister Shamalaza was re-elected as the district coordinator and Namangolwa Mapenzi as the district treasurer.

The Swapo party dispatched leaders, including Deputy Secretary General Uahekua Herunga, the deputy minister of environment and tourism Heather Sibungo, and the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, to attend to the matter over the weekend.

"As per the Swapo Party, I will just give you a practical example. As per the Swapo Party constitution, there must be a zebra-style 50/50. I hope you understand that, so if you vote for a person, for example, if the winner becomes a male, automatically the one second to the leader must be the opposite sex, that is female; even if the opposite sex becomes the second, the third, or the fourth, the highest opposite sex will be the next to take over, so this is where some people, it does not go well to some of the comrades, so that's the situation here and we had to rectify it."

But Sihela Sihela, a member of the party, says favouritism is a matter that requires immediate attention.

Sihela acknowledged that gender equality is a Swapo Party policy, but he maintains he is not happy with the way in which the process was conducted.

"Constitutionally, it's not followed; they don't follow the constitution; sometimes they'll just show favouritism towards the other person, somebody who has been in the position for a lot of years, but nothing seems to go forward in the district."

Erastus Uutoni, the leader of the delegation of Swapo Party leaders, advised members to set aside personal issues and put the party and the country's interests first.

"We need to commit ourselves; we need to commit ourselves, no matter what it is, and if there are problems within us, it is us ourselves to solve these problems."