Jerry threatens legal action over VP omission
Swapo veteran Jerry Ekandjo, through his lawyer Richard Metcalfe, has threatened legal action against the party if he is not included as a candidate for the vice-president position.
He said accepting ministers Tom Alweendo and Frans Kapofi in the race for president, while they have not "served even one day" as central committee members, violated party rules.
Ekandjo came third in the nominations, behind Pohamba Shifeta and Kapofi, who quit the race yesterday.
Shifeta and Kapofi became the two male candidates in the race, joining Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and incumbent party vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The so-called Helmut Amendments require that those contesting for the Swapo vice-presidency must have served for 10 consecutive years in the central committee.
“Neither comrades Frans Kapofi nor Tom Alweendo have served even one day as members of the central committee. This absolutely disqualifies them for nomination for the position of vice-president for the Swapo Party,” Ekandjo said through his lawyers.
He added that he will start his campaign today, whether the party heeds his call or not.
In the event Swapo declines his request, he will file a lawsuit in the High Court, Metcalfe said.
Ekandjo contested for the vice-president position in 2012 and for party presidency in 2017. On both occasions, he lost to Hage Geingob.
He said accepting ministers Tom Alweendo and Frans Kapofi in the race for president, while they have not "served even one day" as central committee members, violated party rules.
Ekandjo came third in the nominations, behind Pohamba Shifeta and Kapofi, who quit the race yesterday.
Shifeta and Kapofi became the two male candidates in the race, joining Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and incumbent party vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The so-called Helmut Amendments require that those contesting for the Swapo vice-presidency must have served for 10 consecutive years in the central committee.
“Neither comrades Frans Kapofi nor Tom Alweendo have served even one day as members of the central committee. This absolutely disqualifies them for nomination for the position of vice-president for the Swapo Party,” Ekandjo said through his lawyers.
He added that he will start his campaign today, whether the party heeds his call or not.
In the event Swapo declines his request, he will file a lawsuit in the High Court, Metcalfe said.
Ekandjo contested for the vice-president position in 2012 and for party presidency in 2017. On both occasions, he lost to Hage Geingob.
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