SWAPO veteran Helmut Angula says the adjustments he recommended to Swapo’s constitution in 2018 were meant to prevent the party from being captured by people with ill intention.
The Helmut Amendments, as they are now known, allows only individuals who have been members of the party for a minimum of 20 years to run for the party’s presidency.
These amendments are now viewed by insiders as the reason why most young people are struggling to reach the apex of the party, with others calling for them to be disposed of.
The amendments also require those in the hierarchy to have served in the central committee and politburo for 10 years.
These requirements are now haunting the party, excluding some leaders aspiring to become party vice-president at the elective congress in November.
Those who are said to be excluded are minister of defence and veterans affairs Frans Kapofi and parliamentarian Tobie Aupundi.
The amendments, however, favour Swapo vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who were nominated by Swapo’s politburo on Monday as candidates for the party’s vice-president position.
“The amendments were made to screen members so you don’t have just anyone with ill intention joining the part” Angula says.
He says that if the party, however, feels the constitutional amendments are restrictive, they could be discarded to suit present condition.
Angula says he did not push the amendments through alone.
He says he chaired the committee that was tasked with the responsibility to amend the party’s constitution.
Asked whether he would contest for any position at Swapo’s upcoming congress, Angula said he is 78 years old and is giving the opportunity to young people.
He declined to say who his preferred candidate for the vice-president position is.
Former prime minister Nahas Angula yesterday said if the party is going to relax the amendments, it should be clearly motivated.
The Namibian could yesterday not establish whether Swapo would relax the amendments when the central committee meets on Saturday.
Neither Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa, nor spokesperson Hilma Nicanor answered calls to their cellphones yesterday.
The Namibian in June reported that Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Nandi-Ndaitwah blocked a plan by party leaders to discuss amendments to the ruling party’s constitution to allow the removal of the Helmut Amendments.
