Nujoma passes the torch

SWAPO president-in-waiting Hifikepunye Pohamba has called on the party’s leaders to welcome back many members who may have been aggrieved by events caused by disunity in the party.

Speaking at the official opening of the ruling party’s congress yesterday, Pohamba said in no uncertain terms that the fundamental challenge facing Swapo was to remain united and faithful to their goals and have cadres that will ensure that they advance goals they set. “Let me ask this of you: Let us join hands together to rededicate ourselves to the service of our country and to the unity of our people.Let us heal our wounds and let us together restore the faith and confidence of our people in the land of the brave.Let us restore faith and confidence in our leadership and in our governance,” Pohamba said amid a huge cheer from close to 600 delegates.He was speaking after Swapo president Sam Nujoma announced that he was not available for re-election.”I am passing the torch and mantle of leadership of the mighty Swapo party to comrade Hifikepunye Pohamba, Vice President of the Swapo party,” Nujoma said as the crowd went wild.However, he had another line to add.”Although I am stepping down as Swapo party president, I will always make myself available for the party’s assignments in order to further strengthen and consolidate the growth of the Swapo party,” he said.That left some people wondering what role Nujoma will play in Swapo’s future.A very confident-looking Pohamba informed the congress that he was ready to take up the challenge.Instead of dwelling on negatives, Pohamba went straight into talking about discipline in Swapo, made a call for clear goals with targets and the importance of unity.He said some people were out to destroy Swapo from within and called on the delegates to guard against such “detractors”.”We must guard against those who work for the weakening and destruction of our party.We must equally guard against those who work to manipulate the movement to create the conditions for their own selfish ends,” he said.He spoke out against tribalism, conflicts based on differences among individuals, encouragement of rank indiscipline leading to undermining of Swapo’s integrity and conflict within communities.He said some of the best Swapo cadres were demoralised because some people in the party instigated division from within.”Inevitably, this has also created the possibility for the opponents of our party to intensify their own offensive to promote their objectives, which are opposed to our goal of creating a better life for all.We must pay the closest possible attention to the continuous political education for our members, to ensure that they become real members of our organisation, and not mere card-carriers,” he said.Pohamba expressed the hope that the delegates will emerge from the congress with a clear understanding of the party’s objectives and policies, a definite programme of action which all must implement, unequivocal commitment to spare no effort to implement programmes, and with a national leadership that enjoys confidence and is capable of leading the movement and country through the challenging period ahead.He called on them to use the four days as a platform to uplift, enhance and strengthen, nurture and cultivate the best, most enduring, most ideal and lasting values that were central to national growth.”This congress should thus not be seen as an opportunity to underscore divisions.Rather, it is designed to consolidate, solidify, and give more life to how we conceive, organise, structure and practise politics in the Swapo party and in our country on the basis of enduring principles,” Pohamba said.Thus, he said, the congress must not waste time by casting aspersions, playing to the gallery or trying to divide people on tribal grounds.”I hope that at the end of this congress, we will all be imbued with a renewed commitment to tolerance, inclusion, and Namibian unity engendered to make our party and country stronger,” he said.Pohamba used his time on the podium to praise contributions by the likes of Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab.Shortly after he was introduced, delegates rose to the music of Ndilimani and danced in front of him.Today the congress will endorse Pohamba as the new Swapo President and he will be deputised by Hage Geingob, as the planned nomination of Jerry Ekandjo was quashed in the Swapo corridors.Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana is expected to win the race against incumbent Secretary General Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange while Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has withdrawn to pave the way for Nangolo Mbumba as the Deputy Secretary.The election of the Central Committee will follow today but the results will only be announced tomorrow morning.The election of the Politburo will be held on Friday morning and will be followed by a media briefing.”Let me ask this of you: Let us join hands together to rededicate ourselves to the service of our country and to the unity of our people.Let us heal our wounds and let us together restore the faith and confidence of our people in the land of the brave.Let us restore faith and confidence in our leadership and in our governance,” Pohamba said amid a huge cheer from close to 600 delegates.He was speaking after Swapo president Sam Nujoma announced that he was not available for re-election.”I am passing the torch and mantle of leadership of the mighty Swapo party to comrade Hifikepunye Pohamba, Vice President of the Swapo party,” Nujoma said as the crowd went wild.However, he had another line to add.”Although I am stepping down as Swapo party president, I will always make myself available for the party’s assignments in order to further strengthen and consolidate the growth of the Swapo party,” he said.That left some people wondering what role Nujoma will play in Swapo’s future.A very confident-looking Pohamba informed the congress that he was ready to take up the challenge.Instead of dwelling on negatives, Pohamba went straight into talking about discipline in Swapo, made a call for clear goals with targets and the importance of unity.He said some people were out to destroy Swapo from within and called on the delegates to guard against such “detractors”.”We must guard against those who work for the weakening and destruction of our party.We must equally guard against those who work to manipulate the movement to create the conditions for their own selfish ends,” he said.He spoke out against tribalism, conflicts based on differences among individuals, encouragement of rank indiscipline leading to undermining of Swapo’s integrity and conflict within communities. He said some of the best Swapo cadres were demoralised because some people in the party instigated division from within.”Inevitably, this has also created the possibility for the opponents of our party to intensify their own offensive to promote their objectives, which are opposed to our goal of creating a better life for all.We must pay the closest possible attention to the continuous political education for our members, to ensure that they become real members of our organisation, and not mere card-carriers,” he said.Pohamba expressed the hope that the delegates will emerge from the congress with a clear understanding of the party’s objectives and policies, a definite programme of action which all must implement, unequivocal commitment to spare no effort to implement programmes, and with a national leadership that enjoys confidence and is capable of leading the movement and country through the challenging period ahead.He called on them to use the four days as a platform to uplift, enhance and strengthen, nurture and cultivate the best, most enduring, most ideal and lasting values that were central to national growth.”This congress should thus not be seen as an opportunity to underscore divisions.Rather, it is designed to consolidate, solidify, and give more life to how we conceive, organise, structure and practise politics in the Swapo party and in our country on the basis of enduring principles,” Pohamba said.Thus, he said, the congress must not waste time by casting aspersions, playing to the gallery or trying to divide people on tribal grounds.”I hope that at the end of this congress, we will all be imbued with a renewed commitment to tolerance, inclusion, and Namibian unity engendered to make our party and country stronger,” he said.Pohamba used his time on the podium to praise contributions by the likes of Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab.Shortly after he was introduced, delegates rose to the music of Ndilimani and danced in front of him.Today the congress will endorse Pohamba as the new Swapo President and he will be deputised by Hage Geingob, as the planned nomination of Jerry Ekandjo was quashed in the Swapo corridors.Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana is expected to win the race against incumbent Secretary General Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange while Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has withdrawn to pave the way for Nangolo Mbumba as the Deputy Secretary.The election of the Central Committee will follow today but the results will only be announced tomorrow morning.The election of the Politburo will be held on Friday morning and will be followed by a media briefing.