Swapo’s extraordinary congress is scheduled to take place on 28 February next year, with the position of party vice president allegedly not being contested.
This position is currently held by president-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is set to be endorsed as Swapo president at the extraordinary congress.
Some party leaders, however, believe the vice president position must be filled.
Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa announced the congress’ planned date at a central committee meeting in Windhoek on Saturday.
She declined to comment yesterday, saying she does not talk to The Namibian.
Central committee meeting attendants were allegedly informed that no contest would take place.
Swapo has been without a president since former president Hage Geingob’s death in February.
Swapo vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been serving as the party’s acting president since then.
Party deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga yesterday said the central committee did not discuss the positions to be contested.
“There was no discussion of that nature.
It will depend on the wishes of the people.
The politburo is set to discuss this matter,” Herunga said.
Two Swapo central committee members contradicted Herunga’s statement, saying it was announced at the meeting that no contest would be allowed and that Nandi-Ndaitwah would occupy both the party vice president and president positions.
Some, however, believe this could cause a leadership crisis in the party.
“This has made people unhappy, because the contradiction is becoming too much. It’s shameful,” a source said yesterday.
Hardap governor Salomon April has also questioned the rationale behind scheduling the extraordinary congress for February.
Initially, Swapo claimed this was due to a lack of funds, while other party leaders, like Jerry Ekandjo, were advocating for an extraordinary congress.
“The secretary general and vice president were silent while Herunga defended the decision, saying the party has funds,” the source said.
“Some people wanted Nandi-Ndaitwah to continue serving as the vice president until 2027. God forbid, what if the vice president dies? The party would not have a president or vice president. We should not allow that,” the source said.
Some Swapo members are pushing for former Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) secretary Elijah Ngurare to be elected as the party’s vice president. Ekandjo, who has been pushing that the extraordinary congress is held within three months of Geingob’s death, yesterday told The Namibian he was unaware of the party’s decision to hold the congress on 28 February. Swapo spokesperson Hilma Nicanor in August announced that the party would convene its extraordinary congress in April next year.
In September, Shaningwa said the party could not fund and financially sustain an extraordinary congress.
She made this statement in a responding affidavit submitted to the High Court. Swapo filed an affidavit to defend its decision not to hold an extraordinary congress to elect a party president.
“The party has given thousands of dollars during the regional engagement in 2023,” Shaningwa said.
She said some funds were spent on the construction of Swapo’s headquarters.
“The party needs funds for its ongoing election campaign and the holding of the electoral college,” she said. This follows a legal challenge by party members Reinhold Shipwikineni, Peter Shituula, Joshua-Vaino Martins, and others, who requested Swapo to hold an extraordinary congress.
In March, Swapo’s central committee endorsed Nandi-Ndaitwah as the party’s presidential candidate in the absence of a congress. Some party members claimed it was a violation of Swapo’s constitution and called for an extraordinary gathering.
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