Discord over Swapo presidential candidate

Discord is reigning supreme over the candidature of Swapo presidential candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, after former secretary general Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana has insisted that only a congress and a central committee resolution can endorse a presidential candidate.

Iivula-Ithana’s sentiments came amid revelations by Swapo vice president Nandi-Ndaitwah on Saturday that some leaders within the Khomas region have not yet endorsed her candidature in the next election, despite being elected at a congress last year.

President Hage Geingob has also been on a recent campaign to market Nandi-Ndaitwah on international forums as the party’s presidential candidate for next year’s polls.

While addressing a Swapo party rally over the weekend, Nandi-Ndaitwah scolded “some senior party leaders in the Khomas region” for refusing to back her.

She accused those who have not backed her of being anti-constitution and sabotaging the party from within at a time when all the other regions have accepted her.

“The congress was an ordinary congress of the party. If there was anything that has to do with the candidature of the party to the next elections, probably, we did not do our part then. We could have taken a resolution at that congress to say the person who comes out as the winner at the ordinary congress becomes the candidate,” Iivula-Ithana told The Namibian yesterday.

“I am just saying, if we are to do things procedurally and in accordance with the party procedures and rules, this is how things are supposed to be done. In 2004 we did so. I was there and many of the colleagues were there too when we decided that to arrive at a candidate for the presidential elections, this is how it should be done. An extraordinary congress is one way to do it.

“The other way would just be a resolution. The central committee meets and resolves in lieu of congress to take certain decisions on behalf of congress and congress can ratify. Those are measures built into the party constitution.”

Meanwhile, Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa has, however, said an extraordinary congress can only be held if any person in the leadership dies or resigns.

“Let me disappoint those who are calling for an extraordinary congress. The president of the land, Hage Geingob, is not ready and is not prepared to damage his image as the leader of the Swapo party and a leader of this country. He is not going to resign,” she told hundreds of supporters at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday.

Geingob, in the meantime, told United Nations (UN) delegates in September that Nandi-Ndaitwah faced the prospect of becoming Namibia’s next president.

“The current deputy prime minister has been selected by the ruling party to be the presidential candidate and very soon, after I leave in a year’s time, she might be the one to come and stand here,” he said.

However, a senior party insider who refused to be named, said Geingob had no right to say this while the situation within the party stands as it is.

“Hage has no right to say that. Hage says what he is supposed to say and he said whatever he said addressing foreign dignitaries. I am tired of this nonsense, man. Let the people go and follow the rules and the procedure of the Constitution of this country. They should not point fingers at people. We are tired, because we do not say anything and now, they must harass us for nothing. Who are we?”

“She is the vice president of the party, what else now? There is no nomination yet, we do not have a nomination yet, that is how far we are concerned as Swapo. Take my word. When the nomination comes, we will talk about it,” said the source.

Iivula-Ithana said she will not be attending rallies because she is too senior to be mobilised by people she brought into the party in the 1970s.

“I have done my part. Rallies to me are probably for people who are being educated in Swapo. What do I get educated in Swapo about? If there is anything I need to do is probably to address a rally. Not to listen to speeches! To do what? To convert me? Do I need to be converted in Swapo? Really!

“Are there people with those notions that these rallies are for the type of Pendukeni, the former secretary general of the party? A party cadre who has suffered for the party for so many years. Do I really have to run around following people who are mobilising the youngsters and the others? That’s a surprise to me,” she said.

Iivula-Ithana suggested that, “If my presence is needed, did they approach me? Or should I just run around because I am hearing that they are also holding mobilisation meetings? I am not to be mobilised. I was mobilised a long time ago, in the 70s, not now.”

Pressed on whether there is bad blood between her and the Swapo candidate, she said, “I do not know. Probably since they are talking about such issues, maybe they know something.”