Swapo debunks Geingob third-term rumours
The Swapo Party secretary-general has rubbished rumours that the party is considering a third term for its president.
02 November 2021 | Politics
ESTER KAMATI
WINDHOEK
Swapo Party secretary-general (SG) Sophia Shaningwa yesterday rubbished claims that the party is considering a third term for President Hage Geingob.
The SG stated that the rumours have been around for months, explaining that president Hage Geingob took over from former president Hifikepunye Pohamba in 2017 because “comrade Pohamba could not finalise his term as far as the Swapo Party procedures are concerned. Hence, voluntarily, he gave up his term to Dr Hage Geingob to accomplish.”
Shaningwa emphasised that Geingob’s term in the party started in 2017.
“In our constitution of the Swapo Party, there is no limitation on the Swapo party presidency. However, as democratic as we are as a party, we always give two terms to the party presidency.
“Therefore, Dr Hage Geingob, if he still wishes to continue by next year 2022 at the congress to be supported for his second term as a party president, that is not a sin because it has been done like that in our party.”
Shaningwa added that the Namibian constitution limits the country presidency to two terms, which is equivalent to ten years.
“I do not know where these third term [rumours] are coming in from. It is very funny that when people want to settle their scores, and they want to cause confusion, they always come up with these types of sensations to cause problems, to cause havoc, to cause commotions amongst the leaders.
“Therefore, the third term that you are talking about, whoever is a fabricator of the third term should come out and clear their things because I am not here to clear their things.
“All that I know, as per the country’s constitution, the presidency in that term should be ten years.”
SCREENSHOTS
Over the weekend, what was said to have been an exchange between Shaningwa and Swapo member and former education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa surfaced in a conversation stating that Shaningwa was in support of the president running for a third term.
“We never had a physical telecommunication with comrade Katrina Hanse. What you are saying is a blatant lie,” she said to journalists who queried about the messages.
“I would like to challenge any person who would come out and give me a screenshot of that statement that you are talking about. People must stop getting credit on Sophia Shaningwa’s name.
“I am challenging you today, publicly to give me a screenshot where I said that because I never spoke to comrade Katrina Hanse,” she concluded.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
Swapo Party secretary-general (SG) Sophia Shaningwa yesterday rubbished claims that the party is considering a third term for President Hage Geingob.
The SG stated that the rumours have been around for months, explaining that president Hage Geingob took over from former president Hifikepunye Pohamba in 2017 because “comrade Pohamba could not finalise his term as far as the Swapo Party procedures are concerned. Hence, voluntarily, he gave up his term to Dr Hage Geingob to accomplish.”
Shaningwa emphasised that Geingob’s term in the party started in 2017.
“In our constitution of the Swapo Party, there is no limitation on the Swapo party presidency. However, as democratic as we are as a party, we always give two terms to the party presidency.
“Therefore, Dr Hage Geingob, if he still wishes to continue by next year 2022 at the congress to be supported for his second term as a party president, that is not a sin because it has been done like that in our party.”
Shaningwa added that the Namibian constitution limits the country presidency to two terms, which is equivalent to ten years.
“I do not know where these third term [rumours] are coming in from. It is very funny that when people want to settle their scores, and they want to cause confusion, they always come up with these types of sensations to cause problems, to cause havoc, to cause commotions amongst the leaders.
“Therefore, the third term that you are talking about, whoever is a fabricator of the third term should come out and clear their things because I am not here to clear their things.
“All that I know, as per the country’s constitution, the presidency in that term should be ten years.”
SCREENSHOTS
Over the weekend, what was said to have been an exchange between Shaningwa and Swapo member and former education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa surfaced in a conversation stating that Shaningwa was in support of the president running for a third term.
“We never had a physical telecommunication with comrade Katrina Hanse. What you are saying is a blatant lie,” she said to journalists who queried about the messages.
“I would like to challenge any person who would come out and give me a screenshot of that statement that you are talking about. People must stop getting credit on Sophia Shaningwa’s name.
“I am challenging you today, publicly to give me a screenshot where I said that because I never spoke to comrade Katrina Hanse,” she concluded.
[email protected]
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