'Geingob desperate to win in November'

Kenya Kambowe

RUNDU



President Hage Geingob's virtual meeting with the country's regional governors this past Friday is a sign of desperation.

This according to political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah, who described the meeting as a “political move”, as Swapo desperately wants to retain power during the upcoming local and regional government elections, slated for November.

During the meeting, Geingob reminded the regional governors of their roles and how they should conduct themselves.

Kamwanyah said this is in response to the recent spate of new political parties, movements and organisations applying to be registered at the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), ahead of the November elections.



Fear of losing

Kamwanyah said Geingob's message demonstrates his fear of Swapo losing further ground in the upcoming elections. He said the president wants his foot soldiers to ensure that does not happen.

Kamwanyah made specific reference to Geingob's fierce rival in last year's presidential election, Panduleni Itula, who garnered 29.4% of the presidential vote.

Itula has since founded the Independent Patriots of Change.

He also mentioned the Affirmative Reposition (AR) movement, which has also applied to register at the ECN.



'Swapo is in trouble'

“There is some sort of good message, but some sort of desperation as well,” Kamwanyah said about Geingob's address to the governors.

“I think with Itula's party and the AR registering to run during this year's elections, Geingob has realised that Swapo is in trouble, so he has to urge his troops on the ground to do what they need to do to ensure Swapo does not lose.”

Kamwanyah said Geingob reminding the governors of their roles mere months after their appointment is a sign that they do not have well-articulated job descriptions.

He added that Namibia deserves leaders who are elected by the people, and not those imposed on the masses.

“That is the problem; the regional governors don't have job descriptions. You don't employ someone and six months later you then say 'this is your job description'. That is what's wrong with the whole regional government structure. In actual fact, we should not even have that structure,” Kamwanyah said.



Not petitioners

Geingob made it clear to the governors that Namibia is faced with a number of challenges. He further urged them to do more with the limited resources at their disposal.

Geingob also used the opportunity to remind the governors that they are not to serve as petitioners, but defenders of government programmes.

“You are not petitioners in regions, who are there to complain about what the central government has done or not done in a particular area,” the president said.

“Your duty is to defend government programmes, its positions and to assist government by pursuing innovative ways to initiate development within your specific regions,” he said.