Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Timo Shihepo
Published on 2024-03-11 17:00:00
The decision made by Swapo’s central committee (CC) to bypass an extraordinary congress and instead endorse Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the presidential candidate has sparked criticism within the party. Some leaders are claiming that the party’s constitution was manipulated to favor the current leadership.
Swapo politburo member and lawyer Sisa Namandje clarified the party’s constitution regarding an extraordinary congress in the event of a president’s death. The constitution stipulates that the central committee should call for an extraordinary congress within three months if the presidency becomes vacant, but it does not mandate that the calling and holding of the congress must occur within the same three-month period.
The interpretation of the words “called” and “held” created a loophole that allowed Nandi-Ndaitwah to be propelled as the sole presidential candidate for the upcoming elections. Some members questioned why Namandje was given a two-hour presentation while the party’s secretary for legal affairs was present.
Concerns were raised about a potential conflict of interest during the meeting, as Nandi-Ndaitwah held multiple roles within the party, including chairperson, vice president, and presidential candidate. There were also claims that the constitution was violated, leading to threats of legal action against the ruling party.
Despite the controversy, Nandi-Ndaitwah emerged as Swapo’s candidate for the November elections, potentially making her Namibia’s first woman president. The party also decided to hold an extraordinary congress in April 2025 to avoid factionalism within the top leadership structure.
Former party officials like Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana and founding president Sam Nujoma publicly endorsed Nandi-Ndaitwah as the candidate. The decision to endorse her was seen as a unifying move by the central committee and aimed at preventing disunity and disfranchisement among party members.
Overall, the outcome of the central committee meeting was met with mixed reactions, with some members expressing dissatisfaction with the process and interpretation of the party’s constitution. The decision to bypass an extraordinary congress and endorse Nandi-Ndaitwah has raised concerns about transparency and fairness within the party’s leadership selection process.
Read the original article on The Namibian
