A title for Nujoma, brickbats for media

THIRTY resolutions were adopted at last week’s Swapo Party congress, which ended late on Friday.

The resolutions were made available to the media yesterday. The congress decided that President Pohamba will be the only Swapo candidate for the 2009 presidential election, which appears to indicate that Pohamba will stand for a second term.The title Leader of the Namibian Revolution will be bestowed on former Swapo President Nujoma “with all rights and privileges”.These were not explained.He already bears the title Founding Father of the Namibian Nation.Nujoma may also “at his discretion, attend meetings of any party structure, in particular the Central Committee and the Politburo”.The position of National Chairman, which was mulled shortly before the congress, has been passed on to a sub-committee of the party to define its rights and responsibilities, The Namibian has reliably learnt.Nujoma will also receive a medal as “the most appropriate and highest award”.The position of Swapo Secretary General will become a full-time salaried job, but no date was given when this will happen.”This could mean that newly elected Secretary General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, who is also Justice Minister and Attorney General, will leave her Cabinet post,” a source inside the party told The Namibian over the weekend.”It is possible that Deputy Justice Minster Utoni Nujoma, son of Sam Nujoma, who was suddenly propelled into the Central Committee and the Politburo during this congress, might become Justice Minister, making a Cabinet reshuffle imminent.”The congress resolved that Government must establish a media council “to regulate the activities and operations of media in the country”.According to the resolutions, Swapo noted that “media, if not properly managed, have the potential to cause conflicts and civil strife” and “noted with concern recent developments in the country pertaining to both electronic and print media activities and the misuse of the media contrary to the spirit of national reconciliation and maintenance of peace and stability”.In another resolution, Swapo decided to specifically target the Kunene Region, which is ruled by opposition parties, as a ‘special focus region’.The congress decided that President Pohamba will be the only Swapo candidate for the 2009 presidential election, which appears to indicate that Pohamba will stand for a second term.The title Leader of the Namibian Revolution will be bestowed on former Swapo President Nujoma “with all rights and privileges”.These were not explained.He already bears the title Founding Father of the Namibian Nation.Nujoma may also “at his discretion, attend meetings of any party structure, in particular the Central Committee and the Politburo”.The position of National Chairman, which was mulled shortly before the congress, has been passed on to a sub-committee of the party to define its rights and responsibilities, The Namibian has reliably learnt.Nujoma will also receive a medal as “the most appropriate and highest award”.The position of Swapo Secretary General will become a full-time salaried job, but no date was given when this will happen. “This could mean that newly elected Secretary General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, who is also Justice Minister and Attorney General, will leave her Cabinet post,” a source inside the party told The Namibian over the weekend.”It is possible that Deputy Justice Minster Utoni Nujoma, son of Sam Nujoma, who was suddenly propelled into the Central Committee and the Politburo during this congress, might become Justice Minister, making a Cabinet reshuffle imminent.”The congress resolved that Government must establish a media council “to regulate the activities and operations of media in the country”.According to the resolutions, Swapo noted that “media, if not properly managed, have the potential to cause conflicts and civil strife” and “noted with concern recent developments in the country pertaining to both electronic and print media activities and the misuse of the media contrary to the spirit of national reconciliation and maintenance of peace and stability”.In another resolution, Swapo decided to specifically target the Kunene Region, which is ruled by opposition parties, as a ‘special focus region’.