Clean sweep for Ngurare supporters

Like it happened in the Kavango Region a week ago, Khomas has nominated Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) Secretary Elijah Ngurare as its preferred candidate for the secretary position at the Youth League’s congress in August while SPYL’s Secretary for Economic Affairs Veikko Nekundi was nominated for the Deputy Secretary position.

Salomon Ilovu, SPYL Khomas Regional Secretary for 10 years, was replaced by Paulus Immanuel in that position after the former opted not to avail himself for re-election.

Ilovu tried his luck at the position of Regional Information and Mobilisation Secretary but lost out in a tight contest to Imms Nashinge.

Lukas Shekwaanyena is the new Regional Treasurer, edging out Lisa Ndapewa Iita in another battle of the titans.

Four additional members of the regional leadership are Tuyeni Kandume, Ndeulipula Hamutumwa Felix Haingura and Austin Kwenani.

Sofia Negonga will be in charge of the regional pioneer movement.

Despite his shock defeat to political novice Nashinge, Ilovu maintained his cool and said the process was free and fair.

“The conference really went well and procedures as set out in the party’s constitution were followed to the letter,” he told Namibian Sun.

The results put Ngurare on course for re-election as Youth League Secretary, although whispers had it that he may try his luck at the Swapo Secretary General’s position as incumbent Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana sets her eyes on the country’s presidency.

Although doubts have been cast over his age, Ngurare looks set for another term as no real challenger has so far emerged to knock him off his perch.

A faction in the SPYL that has been baying for Ngurare’s blood had planned to replace him with Titus Huisemab, but the controversial Young Turk from the Hardap Region was never a real threat to Ngurare who has survived multiple ouster plots.

An ideal challenger to Ngurare would have been Swapo’s Oshikoto Regional Co-ordinator Armas Amukwiyu, but it is unlikely he would challenge his Youth League arch-rival Ngurare because both their positions are full-time.

Nekundi’s five-year term as Secretary for Economic Affairs, as bumpy as it was, seems to have earned him enough popularity within Youth League circles and is now touted for a more influential Deputy Secretary’s position.

His term was marked with fights against senior Swapo leaders such as Helmut Angula, diplomat Tuliamenih Kalomoh and Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Veiccoh Nghiwete but did not erode his popularity among the rank and file of the youth.

Officially, all regions are expected to complete their regional conferences this coming weekend, although this could be extended to the first week of July if extraordinary circumstances delay wrapping up proceedings this week.