• TILENI MONGUDHI and SHINOVENE IMMANUEL
FORMER Swapo presidential candidate Nahas Angula says minister of defence and veterans affairs Frans Kapofi should explain why he yesterday withdrew from the Swapo vice-presidential race or risk being accused of sabotaging the nomination process.
Kapofi and vice-presidential hopeful Jerry Ekandjo both dropped bombshells yesterday.
Kapofi withdrew from the race to become Swapo’s vice-president at the party’s upcoming congress, while Ekandjo threatened to sue the ruling party over his exclusion from the vice-presidential race.
Kapofi yesterday caused speculation, with Angula asking whether the defence minister really harboured presidential ambitions, or whether he used his candidature as a decoy to throw spanners in the path of other presidential hopefuls in the ruling party.
“Why did he decide to take part and disturb the system while he is not serious?” Angula asked yesterday.
He said he would not be surprised if another candidate, minister of environment, forestry and tourism Pohamba Shifeta, also pulled out of the race.
“I am sure comrade Ekandjo may feel that was sabotage. Next time you may hear Shifeta withdraws at the congress.
“If it was a planned thing, then that is not democracy . . . I am against speculation,” the former prime minister said.
Angula knows the stakes when running for the top office.
He was accused of sabotaging former presidential candidate Hidipo Hamutenya in 2004 by standing and later siding with his then rival Hifikepunye Pohamba.
Pohamba appointed him as prime minister.
Angula was expected to take over from Pohamba, but found himself being overlooked and Pohamba backing Geingob instead.
It is further alleged that Geingob too promised Angula the party’s vice-presidency in 2017, just to renege at the 11th hour, opting for deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who currently also appears to have fallen out of favour with Geingob.
Kapofi did not specify why he withdrew from the race, despite early suggestions indicating Geingob favoured him over prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
His opponents were allegedly planning an onslaught on him, which include scrutiny from the party’s vetting committee which reports to the secretary general, who is currently aligned to Kapofi’s rival Nandi-Ndaitwah.
These developments took place within hours from each other, with Kapofi citing family reasons for his about turn.
This comes days after Geingob was accused of circumventing the party’s constitution and election rules to accommodate Kapofi as a candidate for the vice-president position.
This was despite the defence minister not making the cut because he has not been a central committee member for 10 years, as stipulated in the party’s Helmut amendments.
The amendments were ratified at the 2018 Swapo extraordinary congress.
Geingob has allegedly made it known to those close to him that he intended to back Kapofi.
He is said to have made such pronouncements on Saturday night after the heated Swapo central committee meeting, which dealt with nominations for the party’s top leadership positions.
Geingob is accused of stamping his authority at that meeting to ensure Kapofi sails through the nomination process, despite strong opposition from within the central committee.
Kapofi’s ratification on Saturday appeared to have spooked his opponents, such as Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who is said to have told close allies she would not challenge Geingob’s preferred candidate.
Geingob’s circles were allegedly planning to team up Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Kapofi.
The premier is favoured because of her technocratic experience, while Kapofi is known for not shying away from political fights and dealing with issues, such as the disgruntled liberation struggle fighters.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is supported by former generals who are also close to Kapofi.
Former minister Helmut Angula has applauded Kapofi’s decision to withdraw from the race, calling it brave and in the interests of the party and the public.
He said Kapofi has set a good example for following his conscience and doing the honourable thing, which he hoped would also be followed by those wishing to run for public office, but do not qualify.
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