Race heats up for RDP presidency

The Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) National Executive Committee has nominated Jeremiah Nambinga and Kandy Nehova for the party’s presidency. In a surprising twist, RDP acting president Steve Bezuidenhout said he is not running for the presidency, while the party’s deputy director of elections Libolly Haufiku told Namibian Sun he will be standing for the national leadership position. The leadership race came about after Hidipo Hamutenya stepped down. He later backtracked on this decision, but the party has continued to move towards finding a replacement for its founding president. The party held an extraordinary NEC this past Saturday, where Nambinga and Nehova were nominated. At media briefing yesterday Bezuidenhout said Nambinga, who is the RDP Secretary for Information Communication Technology and Publicity, was nominated by Michaela Hubschle and seconded by Eino Heelu. “Nambinga accepted the nomination and it was duly endorsed by the NEC,” said Bezuidenhout. Sacky Amenya - seconded by Asser Sheuyange - nominated Nehova. Nehova is currently the RDP's Secretary for Housing and Human Settlement, Nehova accepted his nomination. Nehova told Namibian Sun yesterday he had anticipated the nomination, as members had spoken to him beforehand. “Should I become president, I will put an emphasis on party organisation, mobilisation of resources for the upcoming local authority elections, while anticipating the 2019 general elections. I will make the RDP into one of the competitive parties in Namibia,” Nehova said. Nambinga said he will invite the media this week to announce what he plans to do with the RDP. Haufiku told Namibian Sun he will launch his official campaign this week. Bezuidenhout indicated that nobody is excluded from running for the presidency. He said the nominations would continue, as per the party’s constitution, through the central committee and would be concluded at the extraordinary national convention scheduled for May 23-24. Bezuidenhout discourages negative campaigning in the media and on Facebook as well as direct or indirect insults, smearing, de-campaigning, lies and vilification of comrades. WINDHOEK SELMA IKELA