Swapo battle in full swing

New rivals have emerged in the Swapo succession race just three days before the party officially nominates candidates for the top four positions to be contested at next month's congress. The names of Swapo veteran Nahas Angula and youth minister Jerry Ekandjo have all been linked to the presidency to stand against the party's acting leader Hage Geingob. Angula told Namibian Sun at the weekend that he was ready to stand for any position, including that of president, if nominated. He said he will begin lobbying for support once he is nominated. A politburo source who requested anonymity said Ekandjo and Angula have already started campaigning for the top seat. The nomination of candidates was deferred to Thursday this week, while more nominations are expected at the upcoming central committee meeting this Sunday. During Friday's politburo meeting in Windhoek, Geingob announced his top four slate, which includes himself for the presidency, international relations minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for the vice-president position, while urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa is Geingob's preferred candidate for the powerful secretary-general position. Swapo School acting rector Marco Hausiku will be Geingob's running mate for the deputy secretary-general post. Geingob on Friday claimed to have consulted his predecessors Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba before drawing up his preferred candidates. Geingob's announcement has not been well received in some quarters, with some party loyalists accusing him of promoting slate politics, which have been at the centre of divisive regional conferences in the last couple of months. The Swapo Party Youth League had last week asked Geingob to announce his preferred candidates for the young leaders to campaign for them. “However, this does not mean that people cannot nominate their preferred candidates or campaign. I am merely carrying out this exercise in order to guide those members who have asked me to reveal my slate,” Geingob said on Friday. The SPYL, as well as some party members, want Geingob to stand as a sole candidate. This is unlikely to happen as Geingob himself hinted that he would be challenged. “You may recall that at one stage, while we were sitting in politburo, one of the comrades decided to inform the chairperson that he wanted to avail himself to stand for elections,” said Geingob. “At another stage, another comrade informed a politburo meeting that although there was nobody to nominate him at that point, he would be nominated at the upcoming central committee meeting.” At the politburo meeting, Geingob also defended those that want him to stand as a sole candidate. He also rejected calls for two centres of power in Swapo. It will be the first time an incumbent state president contests for the presidency of the party. “With regards to the announcement of endorsement which some people feel should not have happened, let us take note that in all democratic systems around the world people have a right to endorse their preferred candidate.” Vice-presidency battleMeanwhile, there is an interesting battle for the position of vice-president in the offing with the names of Swapo spokesperson Helmut Angula and home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana mentioned as possible challengers to Nandi-Ndaitwah. In 2012, Iivula-Ithana also stood for the same position and lost out to Geingob. The other candidate who challenged for the position was Ekandjo. Speculation is rife that Ekandjo would pick Iivula-Ithana as his running mate for the vice-president, while the likes of Elijah Ngurare and Armas Amukwiyu are being linked to the secretary-general post. Helmut Angula told The Namibian last week he was available and would accept a nomination to stand for the Swapo vice-presidency. STAFF REPORTER

Swapo battle in full swing

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

Please login to leave a comment

Swapo battle in full swing

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

Please login to leave a comment

Login