Sanity prevails in Swapo

After a chaotic week, the political climate within the ruling party has started to subside following a recount of central committee results, with the outcome clearly in favour of several party big shots who initially failed to make the cut.

The central committee, which is the party’s highest decision-making body between congresses, is a highly sought-after structure by party members. Congress elects 70 central committee members.

Following the closure of its elective congress last week, Swapo Party was faced with the daunting task of having to appease disgruntled delegates who questioned the electoral process for after it was found that the electoral team had committed errors.

Presiding officer Joshua Kaumbi and his electoral team were the centre of attention after a group of central committee hopefuls who failed to make it onto the initial list submitted a petition to the party calling for a recount, citing several irregularities.

Kaumbi was quick to admit his mistakes, saying the votes were not verified due to the absence of observers.

“I do hereby acknowledge that during the counting of the central committee results, the committee suffered from serious fatigue by the time, and time was of the essence,” he said last week.

The losers

The votes were subsequently recounted and most of those who petitioned the party made it onto the central committee list after an announcement on Friday evening, which was not attended by party president Hage Geingob.

However, despite the recount, several party bigwigs still failed to make the cut. These include diplomats such as Namibia’s high commissioner to Botswana Asser Kapere, Namibia’s ambassador to the United States of America Margaret Mensah-Williams and the country’s ambassador to Russia, Clemens Kashuupulwa.

Minister in the Presidency Christine Hoebes and deputy agriculture minister Anna Shiweda also failed to make the list, while governors James Uerikua (Otjozondjupa), Lawrence Sampofu (Zambezi) and Penda Ya Ndakolo (Oshikoto) also lost out.

Swapo backbencher Leevi Katoma, former Swapo Party Women’s Council secretary Eunice Iipinge and party veteran Ida Hofmann also fell by the wayside.

Former Cabinet minister Erkki Nghimtina, retired navy commander Bamba Nghipandua, Tsumeb mayor Mathew Hangula and Ondobe constituency regional councillor Mandume Pohamba were also not popular enough to make it into the central committee.

Some of those who did not make the cut were, however, thrown a lifeline by Geingob.

He announced over the weekend that he nominated Laurencia Stephanus, Sharonice Busch, Marlyn Mbakera, Sisa Namandje, retired general Martin Shali and Uerikua as his six appointees to the central committee.

Mbakera and Stephanus also contested during the central committee polls, but didn't manage to make the list.

Union loses out

The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) was also one of the biggest losers, having sent 16 delegates to congress.

NUNW had four delegates who vied for a spot on the central committee, namely its secretary-general Job Muniaro, Anna Nghipondoka, Jacob Nghifindaka and Justina Jonas. Only Nghipondoka made it.

Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, Muniaro said it's “unfortunate that we could not make it”.

“We look forward to better things and hope it will not deter us from doing our work. Those elected must deliver on campaign promises to ensure a better economy, employment creation and local ownership of our mineral resources,” he said.

Former Swapo spokesperson Hilma Nikanor, who was also part of the group that petitioned the party over the initial results after failing to make the list, said they have been vindicated.

She added that they were doubtful about the initial results, hence their decision to challenge the outcome. "When we saw that some comrades who ought to have made it did not make it, it made us wonder what happened.

“The new results are more reflective and transparent. The electoral committee admitted their mistakes and corrected them,” she said.

Kaumbi praised

The party’s vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Friday heaped praise on Kaumbi and his team after the recount for being bold enough to publicly admit that they committed some errors.

“Our returning officer, we are proud of you. As humans, there are always errors. I believe any error will only become a mistake if you do not recognise [it] and correct [it]. Any person who can make a mistake and publicly accept [it], that is a leader,” she said.

She added: “That is what I found in comrade Kaumbi. I watched him on the screen when he talked, humbling himself to Namibians and pleading with us to give him a chance to correct the mistake. I would like to thank his team for standing by him. They did not disown him. Teamwork and collective responsibility [are] what build nations".