Our votes not pledged to anyone yet:unions

NATIONAL Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) affiliates say no decision has been taken on who the union will support to run as the Swapo Party’s presidential candidate.

The affiliates said at a press conference in Windhoek on Friday that none of the candidates had approached them and thus no meeting was called to decide on who to back during Swapo’s extraordinary congress later this month. “As far as the NUNW affiliates are concerned, there has been no decision taken by them to campaign for a specific candidate,” said Namibia Farmworkers Union (Nafwu) General Secretary Alfred Angula.He was flanked by leaders of unions such as the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu), Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Nafau), Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu) and the Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia (MUN).The statement appeared to be in response to a view held in some quarters that NUNW President Risto Kapenda and acting Secretary General Peter Naholo support Foreign Affairs Minister Hamutenya in his race against Swapo Vice President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Higher Education Minister Nahas Angula.However, NUNW Deputy General Secretary Evarustus Kaaronda denied that Naholo and Kapenda were campaigning for Hamutenya.Said Napwu General Secretary Petrus Nevonga:”We have not decided to campaign for any of the individual candidates and our decisions are taken collectively,” .”I am perplexed as well, like many others.It has also come to my attention that the NUNW has not indicated a particular candidate of choice,” he said.He said Naholo had only indicated what characteristics the unions would look for when deciding on who they would vote for.Angula said the 15 votes for the unions were up for grabs, as they were not likely to decide on a candidate until the congress started.”The delegates at the congress will come up with a candidate after observing the mood,” he said.Nevonga said none of the candidates had lobbied the affiliates and it was naive for them to decide on any one candidate since they were all tested leaders.Last week, NUNW acting Secretary General Peter Naholo alleged widespread mudslinging and character assassination that bordered on defamation after a number of Regional Councillors snubbed the May Day event they organised and which was supposed to be addressed by Hamutenya.Although the Councillors denied that they had boycotted the occasion, rumours did the rounds that “tribal preferences” were behind their action.According to unconfirmed reports, some councillors are also afraid to be seen to not back President Nujoma’s candidate.Although the affiliates said they had not decided on a candidate, they vowed to “elect a visionary and dedicated candidate that will build on the foundation laid down by His Excellency President Sam Nujoma”.The unions openly backed former Swapo Vice President and Nujoma’s choice, Hendrik Witbooi, against former Prime Minister Hage Geingob.On Friday, they claimed that had been wrong because it had not been done procedurally.”As far as the NUNW affiliates are concerned, there has been no decision taken by them to campaign for a specific candidate,” said Namibia Farmworkers Union (Nafwu) General Secretary Alfred Angula.He was flanked by leaders of unions such as the Namibia Public Workers’ Union (Napwu), Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Nafau), Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu) and the Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia (MUN).The statement appeared to be in response to a view held in some quarters that NUNW President Risto Kapenda and acting Secretary General Peter Naholo support Foreign Affairs Minister Hamutenya in his race against Swapo Vice President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Higher Education Minister Nahas Angula.However, NUNW Deputy General Secretary Evarustus Kaaronda denied that Naholo and Kapenda were campaigning for Hamutenya.Said Napwu General Secretary Petrus Nevonga:”We have not decided to campaign for any of the individual candidates and our decisions are taken collectively,” .”I am perplexed as well, like many others.It has also come to my attention that the NUNW has not indicated a particular candidate of choice,” he said.He said Naholo had only indicated what characteristics the unions would look for when deciding on who they would vote for.Angula said the 15 votes for the unions were up for grabs, as they were not likely to decide on a candidate until the congress started.”The delegates at the congress will come up with a candidate after observing the mood,” he said.Nevonga said none of the candidates had lobbied the affiliates and it was naive for them to decide on any one candidate since they were all tested leaders.Last week, NUNW acting Secretary General Peter Naholo alleged widespread mudslinging and character assassination that bordered on defamation after a number of Regional Councillors snubbed the May Day event they organised and which was supposed to be addressed by Hamutenya.Although the Councillors denied that they had boycotted the occasion, rumours did the rounds that “tribal preferences” were behind their action.According to unconfirmed reports, some councillors are also afraid to be seen to not back President Nujoma’s candidate.Although the affiliates said they had not decided on a candidate, they vowed to “elect a visionary and dedicated candidate that will build on the foundation laid down by His Excellency President Sam Nujoma”.The unions openly backed former Swapo Vice President and Nujoma’s choice, Hendrik Witbooi, against former Prime Minister Hage Geingob.On Friday, they claimed that had been wrong because it had not been done procedurally.