Shifeta unbothered by drop to 20th Swapo pot ranking

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta says he’s not bothered by his drop to 20th on this year’s Swapo ‘pot’ parliamentary list.

Over the years, Shifeta has ranked highly on the ruling party parliamentary list. In 2019, he took top spot at the Swapo electoral college and also achieved a high ranking in 2009.

“Yes, I have in the past come first maybe on more than one occasion, but that doesn’t mean that I will always be high up there,” Shifeta told The Namibian this week.

Shifeta challenged Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for Swapo’s vice president position in 2022, with the support of former president Hage Geingob.

Shifeta, now the Swapo secretary for legal affairs, said he is not worried about his performance.

“It’s not about past positions. I am still happy and grateful to be on the list and serve in the next parliament,” he said.

Following Shifeta on this year’s list is prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who also challenged Nandi-Ndaitwah at the 2022 congress.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says she is honoured to have been nominated to be part of Swapo’s next parliamentary group.

“It’s an honour and privilege and I will give it my everything, as I have done,” she told The Namibian this week.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said she has always been available to serve Swapo and lead Namibia.

The Namibian reported on Monday that Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was among the victims targeted by internal factions that wanted to see her fall from grace.

This was after she has dominated electoral colleges for the past two decades.

She came fourth in 2004 and sixth in the 2019 Swapo electoral college. At this year’s electoral college, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila did not contest.

Sources assert that Nandi-Ndaitwah removed Kuugongelwa-Amadhila from contesting in the pot to avoid having the premier compete with others, as it could cause division.

The prime minister has since reconciled with Nandi-Ndaitwah and has been included in Nandi-Ndaitwah’s hand-picked list of 10 people. As a result, she is placed 21 on the overall list.

However, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s supporters were some of the biggest winners at this year’s electoral college, amid de-campaigning efforts by their rivals.

Other politicians who challenged for the Swapo leadership weren’t as lucky as Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.

Kapofi, who briefly challenged for the Swapo presidency at the 2022 congress, placed in the 67th position at this year’s electoral college. He was ranked seventh at the 2019 Swapo electoral college.

“The people have decided. People have the right to vote for whoever they want. They at least put me at 28 on the men’s list,” said Kapofi, expressing his availability as a leader.

Former Cabinet minister Jerry Ekandjo, who previously challenged for the Swapo leadership, was also on the losing end of last weekend’s pot result. He didn’t even make it to the top 70 of the final Swapo 2024 electoral college list.

Ekandjo has been critical of Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Swapo leadership for not hosting an extraordinary congress after the death of former president Hage Geingob in February.

Ekandjo further challenged both Geingob and president Nangolo Mbumba to pass an anti-gay bill.