It’s official. No fourth term, vows President

IN what will go down in history as a landmark decision, the Central Committee of the ruling party, Swapo, has ended the controversial debate about a fourth term for President Sam Nujoma, instead putting forward three candidates for the Namibian Presidency.

President Nujoma will now step down at the end of his term next year – setting the stage for a hot succession race between three Swapo stalwarts. One of three candidates – Ministers Hifikepunye Pohamba, Hidipo Hamutenya and Nahas Angula – will be chosen by a Swapo Extraordinary Congress as the presidential candidate for the next elections.One source described it as “an historic moment”, with the Swapo Party showing “a new sense of maturity and good judgement” by deciding not to grant President Nujoma a fourth term.”The President of Swapo Party reiterated his earlier decision that in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, he will not seek another term of office …,” Nujoma himself said, when he presented eagerly-awaited decisions of the Swapo Central Committee meeting at the weekend.The nomination of the three candidates was recommended by the Politburo and referred to the Central Committee meeting on Friday for endorsement.There was a flurry of confusion over procedures when the President named three top Swapo party leaders, Vice President Pohamba, Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, and deputy Secretary General, John Pandeni, as well as Marlene Mungunda, as his proposed candidates.How this was quickly sorted out to make way for the three candidates finally nominated by the Politburo and later endorsed by the Central Committee.One of the three will be selected at the Swapo Party’s Extraordinary Congress, to be held from May 28 to 29.The Namibian has learned from sources close to the Swapo Politburo that Hamutenya was nominated by Speaker of the National Assembly Mose Tjitendero, while Nujoma nominated Pohamba, and Angula was proposed by Minister of Prisons Andimba Toivo ya Toivo.The outcome of the two-day CC meeting seemed well received by the majority of members as the spirit on the last day was exuberant compared to the sombre atmosphere at the beginning of the gathering on Friday.One source said there had been “no talk” of a fourth term for the President at the Central Committee meeting, and the Party was apparently decisive in its resolve to democratically put forward the three candidates.On Saturday evening, Central Committee members sang and danced with renewed enthusiasm, prompting one journalist to remark that: “The spirit is back.”Even the most serious of the Swapo leaders were up for a joke with members of the media as they waited impatiently for the decisions of the meeting to announced.Briefly leaving the meeting at around 18h20, President Nujoma cheerfully greeted this journalist, saying: “We will invite you soon to join the debate.”A minute later Hamutenya followed with his briefcase and jokingly remarked: “I am walking out.”A few minutes later Pohamba appeared sporting a broad smile.”We are coming just now,” the presidential aspirant said.Over the last months, the presidential succession debate has threatened to polarise Namibian politics as speculation mounted over the possibility of amending the Constitution – again – to allow for a fourth term for President Nujoma.Last week a crowd of Swapo supporters demonstrated at Oshakati to demand a referendum on a fourth term.At the same time a strong “anti-fourth” campaign was gaining momentum both in civil society and the ruling party itself.When he opened the Central Committee meeting on Friday, Nujoma urged his party’s leaders to handle the presidential succession issue with sober minds and in the spirit of unity “so that as a ruling party we can arrive at workable solutions”.”When there is no unity, there will be no peace and stability… we must therefore hold hands and promote unity with our party and society at large,” the President emphasised.One of three candidates – Ministers Hifikepunye Pohamba, Hidipo Hamutenya and Nahas Angula – will be chosen by a Swapo Extraordinary Congress as the presidential candidate for the next elections.One source described it as “an historic moment”, with the Swapo Party showing “a new sense of maturity and good judgement” by deciding not to grant President Nujoma a fourth term.”The President of Swapo Party reiterated his earlier decision that in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, he will not seek another term of office …,” Nujoma himself said, when he presented eagerly-awaited decisions of the Swapo Central Committee meeting at the weekend.The nomination of the three candidates was recommended by the Politburo and referred to the Central Committee meeting on Friday for endorsement.There was a flurry of confusion over procedures when the President named three top Swapo party leaders, Vice President Pohamba, Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, and deputy Secretary General, John Pandeni, as well as Marlene Mungunda, as his proposed candidates.How this was quickly sorted out to make way for the three candidates finally nominated by the Politburo and later endorsed by the Central Committee.One of the three will be selected at the Swapo Party’s Extraordinary Congress, to be held from May 28 to 29.The Namibian has learned from sources close to the Swapo Politburo that Hamutenya was nominated by Speaker of the National Assembly Mose Tjitendero, while Nujoma nominated Pohamba, and Angula was proposed by Minister of Prisons Andimba Toivo ya Toivo.The outcome of the two-day CC meeting seemed well received by the majority of members as the spirit on the last day was exuberant compared to the sombre atmosphere at the beginning of the gathering on Friday.One source said there had been “no talk” of a fourth term for the President at the Central Committee meeting, and the Party was apparently decisive in its resolve to democratically put forward the three candidates.On Saturday evening, Central Committee members sang and danced with renewed enthusiasm, prompting one journalist to remark that: “The spirit is back.”Even the most serious of the Swapo leaders were up for a joke with members of the media as they waited impatiently for the decisions of the meeting to announced.Briefly leaving the meeting at around 18h20, President Nujoma cheerfully greeted this journalist, saying: “We will invite you soon to join the debate.”A minute later Hamutenya followed with his briefcase and jokingly remarked: “I am walking out.”A few minutes later Pohamba appeared sporting a broad smile.”We are coming just now,” the presidential aspirant said.Over the last months, the presidential succession debate has threatened to polarise Namibian politics as speculation mounted over the possibility of amending the Constitution – again – to allow for a fourth term for President Nujoma.Last week a crowd of Swapo supporters demonstrated at Oshakati to demand a referendum on a fourth term.At the same time a strong “anti-fourth” campaign was gaining momentum both in civil society and the ruling party itself.When he opened the Central Committee meeting on Friday, Nujoma urged his party’s leaders to handle the presidential succession issue with sober minds and in the spirit of unity “so that as a ruling party we can arrive at workable solutions”.”When there is no unity, there will be no peace and stability… we must therefore hold hands and promote unity with our party and society at large,” the President emphasised.