Allexer Namundjembo
The Mariental Residents Association (MRA) has withdrawn Daniel Dawid Gariseb as a local authority councillor with immediate effect hours after he was sworn in, citing his expulsion from the association and claiming he was not the rightful candidate on its gazetted list.
In a letter dated 8 June 2026 addressed to Mariental municipality chief executive officer Paul Nghiwilepo and seen by the Windhoek Observer, MRA chairman and authorised representative Werner von Watzdorf said Gariseb’s swearing-in on Monday morning should be rescinded with immediate effect.
Von Watzdorf invoked Section 13(1)(c) of the Local Authorities Act 23 of 1992, notifying the municipality that Gariseb is withdrawn as a councillor.
Von Watzdorf told the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday that Gariseb was suspended by the association in January and was not supposed to be sworn in as councillor since he was not the first candidate on the association’s gazetted list.
“I was supposed to be sworn in as councillor, but due to corruption, Gariseb got sworn in,” he said.
The Windhoek Observer confirmed this with the association’s candidate list submitted to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).
The withdrawal follows a disciplinary hearing held on 27 January 2026 at Van Heerden Liebenberg and Co. in Mariental, which Gariseb did not attend.
According to a letter signed by Von Watzdorf, the hearing found Gariseb guilty on seven charges including the unlawful use of state resources; undermining the election candidate list and election outcome; forged letterhead and false dismissal letter.
Gariseb was also found guilty of racist and discriminatory conduct; misrepresentation to the municipality and magistrate; holding unauthorised meetings and continuing misrepresentation; and fraudulently using the association’s stamp.
The tribunal stated that Gariseb’s conduct demonstrated “dishonesty, abuse of authority, racism and discrimination, fraud and forgery, serious reputational harm to the MRA and persistent defiance of the constitution of the MRA.”
It added that he had shown no respect for the rule of law, the democratic processes of the MRA, or the constitutional values of Namibia.
Following the hearing, the MRA management committee resolved on 29 January 2026 to cancel Gariseb’s membership with immediate effect under Article 5(j) of the MRA constitution.
He was formally notified that he is prohibited from holding himself out as a member, representative or office bearer of the MRA.
Von Watzdorf attached proof of his status as authorised representative, noting it could be confirmed with ECN senior legal officer Alpheus Haufiku.
The MRA said Gariseb had co-drafted the association’s constitution in collaboration with the management committee and ECN, which he signed on 28 June 2025.
The MRA is registered under Namibia’s electoral laws.
Gariseb had been issued letters regarding his conduct on 27 November 2025 and 3 December 2025 before the disciplinary process.
