Elders say no to 'armchair revolutionaries'
The Swapo Party Elders' Council says the ruling party should elect tried and tested cadres and not “armchair revolutionaries” at next month's elective congress.
In a statement yesterday, SPEC secretary Mukwaita Shanyengana implored congress delegates to vote for leaders with unquestionable loyalty to the party.
“The leadership in these positions will need to be tried and tested cadres who, in addition to unquestionable loyalty, have the political maturity, intellectual insight, and love for the Namibian people at heart,” he advised.
“Such leaders must be elected on merit because they have served and worked meritoriously in the party structures starting from the lowest entry levels, and can add value to the party's programmes, and the lives of all Namibians.
“And not because they are empty yet excellent barking dogs without the bite, posturing as populist radical armchair revolutionaries, or very good sloganeers at the party fundraising braais and rallies.”
Shanyengana also advised party members to reject regionalism, tribalism and lust for power.
“Some people can be easily influenced by the politics of the belly, ethnicity, tribe, and region. That is not the Swapo way of 'One Namibia, One Nation and One Leader'.
“Our top-four leaders should be people who have the interest of the party at heart and will never waver, dilute the aims and objectives of the Swapo Party or compromise its historical legacy, and sacrosanct principles,” he further said. The Swapo succession race is heating up, with at least three presidential candidates expected to stand.
Acting party leader Hage Geingob and veteran politicians Nahas Angula and Jerry Ekandjo are all set to contest the Swapo presidency. International relations minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and her home affairs counterpart, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, have expressed interest in standing for the vice-presidency.
Another likely candidate for the vice-president position is current Swapo spokesperson Helmut Angula. Urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa has been picked as Geingob's preferred candidate for the secretary-general position.
She is expected to face stiff competition from former Swapo Party Youth League leader Elijah Ngurare and Oshikoto regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu.
Marco Hausiku is expected to be nominated for the deputy secretary-general position, while new rivals are expected to emerge on Sunday when the ruling party's central committee wraps up the nominations.
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In a statement yesterday, SPEC secretary Mukwaita Shanyengana implored congress delegates to vote for leaders with unquestionable loyalty to the party.
“The leadership in these positions will need to be tried and tested cadres who, in addition to unquestionable loyalty, have the political maturity, intellectual insight, and love for the Namibian people at heart,” he advised.
“Such leaders must be elected on merit because they have served and worked meritoriously in the party structures starting from the lowest entry levels, and can add value to the party's programmes, and the lives of all Namibians.
“And not because they are empty yet excellent barking dogs without the bite, posturing as populist radical armchair revolutionaries, or very good sloganeers at the party fundraising braais and rallies.”
Shanyengana also advised party members to reject regionalism, tribalism and lust for power.
“Some people can be easily influenced by the politics of the belly, ethnicity, tribe, and region. That is not the Swapo way of 'One Namibia, One Nation and One Leader'.
“Our top-four leaders should be people who have the interest of the party at heart and will never waver, dilute the aims and objectives of the Swapo Party or compromise its historical legacy, and sacrosanct principles,” he further said. The Swapo succession race is heating up, with at least three presidential candidates expected to stand.
Acting party leader Hage Geingob and veteran politicians Nahas Angula and Jerry Ekandjo are all set to contest the Swapo presidency. International relations minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and her home affairs counterpart, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, have expressed interest in standing for the vice-presidency.
Another likely candidate for the vice-president position is current Swapo spokesperson Helmut Angula. Urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa has been picked as Geingob's preferred candidate for the secretary-general position.
She is expected to face stiff competition from former Swapo Party Youth League leader Elijah Ngurare and Oshikoto regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu.
Marco Hausiku is expected to be nominated for the deputy secretary-general position, while new rivals are expected to emerge on Sunday when the ruling party's central committee wraps up the nominations.
STAFF REPORTER
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