Key Swapo politicians fall in nomination stages

SWAPO’S nominations for regional councillors has claimed some high profile politicians.

Power struggles dominated the ruling party’s districts – constituencies in the regions – which held election conferences until this weekend to elect candidates for the regional council elections at the end of November. In some places, attempts to kick out popular councillors were thwarted, while in others it is reported that incumbents were outvoted because of their support for the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hidipo Hamutenya.Apart from Kandy Nehova, other prominent ruling party politicians who have no chance of re-election are Luderitz Councillor Fluksman Samuehl and the Governor of Oshikoto, Vilho Kamanya.Samuehl, who is a National Council member, declined to comment yesterday, though some of his comrades speculated he might have lost out because of his purported support for Hamutenya at the Swapo special congress that chose Nujoma’s heir apparent.A host of other councillors are reported to be on their way out.”Some people lost not because they were bad or that they did not work but because of the continuation of the congress fights,” said one Swapo lawmaker.Support for Hamutenya meant taking a stand contrary to that held by Swapo untouchable, President Sam Nujoma.At Gibeon, attempts by the pro-Nujoma lobby, who are now campaigning for Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba to stop the re-election of Karel Kisting as the candidate for the Gibeon constituency, were met with a demonstration by his supporters.Swapo Secretary for Information and Mobilisation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said the names of those who made it onto the list would be made public through posters that the party will print to kick-start the campaign.With Swapo’s nominations for the regional councils finished, the focus will now shift to the election of candidates for the National Assembly.The stakes are very high this time around, with outgoing President Nujoma still having the power to choose 10 candidates, who are guaranteed to top the list.”The elections have become truly a matter of bread and butter,” said one councillor, explaining the jostling for positions.In some places, attempts to kick out popular councillors were thwarted, while in others it is reported that incumbents were outvoted because of their support for the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hidipo Hamutenya.Apart from Kandy Nehova, other prominent ruling party politicians who have no chance of re-election are Luderitz Councillor Fluksman Samuehl and the Governor of Oshikoto, Vilho Kamanya.Samuehl, who is a National Council member, declined to comment yesterday, though some of his comrades speculated he might have lost out because of his purported support for Hamutenya at the Swapo special congress that chose Nujoma’s heir apparent.A host of other councillors are reported to be on their way out.”Some people lost not because they were bad or that they did not work but because of the continuation of the congress fights,” said one Swapo lawmaker.Support for Hamutenya meant taking a stand contrary to that held by Swapo untouchable, President Sam Nujoma.At Gibeon, attempts by the pro-Nujoma lobby, who are now campaigning for Lands Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba to stop the re-election of Karel Kisting as the candidate for the Gibeon constituency, were met with a demonstration by his supporters.Swapo Secretary for Information and Mobilisation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said the names of those who made it onto the list would be made public through posters that the party will print to kick-start the campaign.With Swapo’s nominations for the regional councils finished, the focus will now shift to the election of candidates for the National Assembly.The stakes are very high this time around, with outgoing President Nujoma still having the power to choose 10 candidates, who are guaranteed to top the list.”The elections have become truly a matter of bread and butter,” said one councillor, explaining the jostling for positions.