By Staff reporter
WINDHOEK, September 12– Divisions within the ruling Swapo Party, often emerging from electoral congresses, appear far from over. Despite calls for unity by party leaders, from founding president Sam Nujoma to the current leadership, the pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears. The losing camp from the last Congress took the opportunity to exact revenge, by ensuring that those close to party vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah were voted out.
The results from the Electoral College (referred to as “the pot”) indicated that many members of the politburo who are perceived as Nandi-Ndaitwah’s allies were sidelined. Candidates from regions regarded as her political strongholds, such as Ohangwena and the two Kavango regions, also faced defeat.
“Even Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s political future is not safe, as she will be surrounded by people who didn’t want her as the top leader,” one member, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization, commented.
Tensions during the Electoral College heightened when a fake list was circulated. The list, reportedly orchestrated by a group dubbed “Gen Z” by a local newspaper, placed individuals close to Nandi-Ndaitwah at the top. This was followed by a campaign to discredit and decampaign those on the list, preventing them from being elected.
“The leadership made a critical mistake by not condemning the creation of the fake list, which was aimed at decampaigning others,” another politburo member said, also speaking anonymously.
For the first time in Swapo’s history, a significant number of politburo members will not serve in Parliament or the Cabinet. Those who failed to secure positions at the pot include Frans Kapofi, Maria Elago, Hofni Iipinge, Anna Nghipondoka, Kornelia Shilunga, Veikko Nekundi, Verna Sinimbo, Hilma Nikanor, Elia Kaiyamo, Bernadette Jagger, and Laura McLeod-Katjirua. -Namibia Daily News
