President Nangolo Mbumba has said age does not allow him to run for the presidency.
Mbumba, aged 83, was questioned by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Tuesday regarding his decision not to run for the top position.
Mbumba took over the reins as Namibia’s head of state after president Hage Geingob died in February.
“I could not run and jeopardise the work already done. Plus, my age does not allow me, my family doesn’t want me to be in the job until I can no longer do things for them or for my own family. But it was done cleanly, clearly,” he said.
Mbumba added that there might have been a need for him to run only if there was no contender.
“If there was no candidate, maybe they could have said so. But we have a candidate of the Swapo Party and Swapo rules have to be followed and we do not jump into elections for the sake of jumping into elections,” he said.
He said the decision is also rooted in following the party’s procedures.
“We follow our party rules and because that is the only way for the party to remain strong and to be able to win elections, not only now but also tomorrow,” he stated.
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