Nandi-Ndaitwah ready to lead
Deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says she is ready to continue working with President Hage Geingob at party level.
Nandi-Ndaitwah has been picked as Geingob's preferred candidate for the position of party vice-president at next month's Swapo congress.
“It is an honour for me. I am already working with the president of Swapo,” she said.
“I am ready to continue (working) with him. I will be guided by the Swapo Party principles and also by the party manifesto. I have over the years been given different opportunities to serve the country and the party on different levels, the liberation struggle, the diplomatic front and politically.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also the international relations minister, is expected to be nominated for the vice-presidency at Thursday's politburo meeting.
In 2012 she scored the second highest number of votes after Swapo veteran Nahas Angula to be part of the 21-member politburo.
“I was privileged to have served the party in its social sectors such as gender and women affairs. My time at the ministry of information complemented this social work and gave me a broader view of the people.
“At the environment ministry I worked in the economic sector and now in the international relations ministry I am working on the political front, so I am ready to serve in this position if I am nominated,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
Geingob has also picked urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa and former deputy prime minister Marco Hausiku for the positions of Swapo secretary-general and deputy secretary-general respectively.
They are also expected to be nominated on Thursday.
'Divisions'
Meanwhile, political commentators yesterday expressed concern about the deepening divisions within the ruling party as it prepares to elect a new leadership.
There has never been so much bitterness in the party, noted Nico Horn.
He said the sudden developments following Geingob's announcement of his list could easily be interpreted as sour grapes.
“We are in for a battle; there is a lot of bitterness in Swapo and everybody is trying to be nice,” he said.
According to Horn, the party is at war with itself.
He pointed out, though, that there was no indication that this would hurt the party's performance at the ballot box in 2019.
Another commentator, Ndumba Kamwanyah, said Nahas Angula's emergence was certainly going to be a game-changer.
“All I can say is that Swapo will not be the same again. Angula is not really known as the confrontational type so it shows there is some disagreement in the party,” he said.
Angula has indicated his willingness to stand against Geingob for the party presidency. Another likely candidate is Jerry Ekandjo.
Kamwanyah also questioned why Geingob had failed to pick younger candidates following his announcement in New York that the old guard would leave soon.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Nandi-Ndaitwah has been picked as Geingob's preferred candidate for the position of party vice-president at next month's Swapo congress.
“It is an honour for me. I am already working with the president of Swapo,” she said.
“I am ready to continue (working) with him. I will be guided by the Swapo Party principles and also by the party manifesto. I have over the years been given different opportunities to serve the country and the party on different levels, the liberation struggle, the diplomatic front and politically.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also the international relations minister, is expected to be nominated for the vice-presidency at Thursday's politburo meeting.
In 2012 she scored the second highest number of votes after Swapo veteran Nahas Angula to be part of the 21-member politburo.
“I was privileged to have served the party in its social sectors such as gender and women affairs. My time at the ministry of information complemented this social work and gave me a broader view of the people.
“At the environment ministry I worked in the economic sector and now in the international relations ministry I am working on the political front, so I am ready to serve in this position if I am nominated,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
Geingob has also picked urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa and former deputy prime minister Marco Hausiku for the positions of Swapo secretary-general and deputy secretary-general respectively.
They are also expected to be nominated on Thursday.
'Divisions'
Meanwhile, political commentators yesterday expressed concern about the deepening divisions within the ruling party as it prepares to elect a new leadership.
There has never been so much bitterness in the party, noted Nico Horn.
He said the sudden developments following Geingob's announcement of his list could easily be interpreted as sour grapes.
“We are in for a battle; there is a lot of bitterness in Swapo and everybody is trying to be nice,” he said.
According to Horn, the party is at war with itself.
He pointed out, though, that there was no indication that this would hurt the party's performance at the ballot box in 2019.
Another commentator, Ndumba Kamwanyah, said Nahas Angula's emergence was certainly going to be a game-changer.
“All I can say is that Swapo will not be the same again. Angula is not really known as the confrontational type so it shows there is some disagreement in the party,” he said.
Angula has indicated his willingness to stand against Geingob for the party presidency. Another likely candidate is Jerry Ekandjo.
Kamwanyah also questioned why Geingob had failed to pick younger candidates following his announcement in New York that the old guard would leave soon.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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