Presidency pours cold water on ‘third term’

STAFF REPORTER

WINDHOEK

While murmurs of President Hage Geingob planning to run for a third term are becoming louder, his spokesperson says there are no such plans.

Swapo’s succession battle was a major talking point over the weekend after leaked Whatsapp messages between Swapo leaders revealed alleged plans for Geingob to run for another term.

Geingob’s press secretary, Alfredo Hengari, said Geingob was not planning on clinging to power.

“I can assure you that President Hage G. Geingob as a drafter of the Namibian constitution and a champion of our constitutional democracy, including term limits in Africa, is not in any way considering a third term,” he said.

“Geingob believes in effective governance and will not seek to undermine the processes, systems and institutions the Namibian government has put in place to safeguard our democracy,” he added.

Ya Nangoloh factor

According to a news report by The Villager newspaper, the arrival of seasoned Swapo critic Phil Ya Nangoloh is also part of the third term plot.

“Kindly note that Mr Ya Nangolo is coming to defend third term plans for Dr Hage Geingob, he will contest again. Anybody who will object will be labelled as an Owambo tribalist. Welcome, Mr Phil Ya Nangolo, you have joined Mr Katuutire Kaura, and very soon, Mr Jesaya Nyamu will join Swapo too. Amen," Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa allegedly said during a conversation with former cabinet minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa.

Hanse-Himarwa confirmed the conversation but described claims of a possible third term as “infamous lies”.

The former minister has her reservations about the party’s plans to publicly welcome Ya Nangoloh into the party’s fold.

“A third term is not constitutional, how are we going to get around that? As party president he has not even gotten into a second term. The Hage that I know is not so desperate for power,” she said when approached yesterday.