Opposition parties hail Nujoma’s decision

PRESIDENT Sam Nujoma’s decision not to seek a fourth presidential term has been welcomed as “good for democracy”.

Approached for comment yesterday, leader of the official opposition, the DTA-UDF coalition, Katuutire Kaura, expressed gratitude for the spirit President Nujoma had demonstrated “to keep democracy alive”. “That is a sign of greatness on his [Nujoma’s] part for having considered the Namibian Constitution above his personal interests,” he said.The opposition leader declared that Nujoma had done a lot for Namibia.However, Kaura said, he could not agree with suggestions that the country’s stability could be at stake if President Nujoma stepped down.”That’s putting a vote of no confidence in all Namibian people.As long as everyone keeps the spirit of the Constitution, there will always be continuity,” said Kaura, who lost to Nujoma in the 1999 presidential race.The Congress of Democrats (CoD) also hailed the decision.CoD Chairperson Nora Schimming-Chase said it would do “a lot of good for the country’s name internationally”.Schimming-Chase said that by relinquishing power “gracefully” Nujoma would be hailed as a statesman.Although welcoming Nujoma’s decision, the President of the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo), Kuaima Riruako, remained sceptical.He said he would only be convinced after the Swapo Extraordinary Congress “makes the final decision”.”At this stage there is still much room to renege on the promise… what if Swapo supporters start to demonstrate for Nujoma to stay on? Will he still firmly stick by the decision to stand down,” Riruako said by telephone from his farm in Aminuis.Monitor Action Group Chairman Kosie Pretorius only said: “Thanks… that the rule of law is over-ruling the rule of the people.”President Nujoma at the weekend ended speculation about the possibility of changing the Constitution to prolong his term in office when he told a Central Committee meeting of the ruling party that he did not intend to seek a fourth term.The Namibian Constitution limits the president to two five-year terms.In 1999 a loophole allowed the ruling Swapo Party to amend the Constitution to allow Nujoma to stand for a third term.”That is a sign of greatness on his [Nujoma’s] part for having considered the Namibian Constitution above his personal interests,” he said.The opposition leader declared that Nujoma had done a lot for Namibia.However, Kaura said, he could not agree with suggestions that the country’s stability could be at stake if President Nujoma stepped down.”That’s putting a vote of no confidence in all Namibian people.As long as everyone keeps the spirit of the Constitution, there will always be continuity,” said Kaura, who lost to Nujoma in the 1999 presidential race.The Congress of Democrats (CoD) also hailed the decision.CoD Chairperson Nora Schimming-Chase said it would do “a lot of good for the country’s name internationally”.Schimming-Chase said that by relinquishing power “gracefully” Nujoma would be hailed as a statesman.Although welcoming Nujoma’s decision, the President of the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo), Kuaima Riruako, remained sceptical.He said he would only be convinced after the Swapo Extraordinary Congress “makes the final decision”.”At this stage there is still much room to renege on the promise… what if Swapo supporters start to demonstrate for Nujoma to stay on? Will he still firmly stick by the decision to stand down,” Riruako said by telephone from his farm in Aminuis.Monitor Action Group Chairman Kosie Pretorius only said: “Thanks… that the rule of law is over-ruling the rule of the people.”President Nujoma at the weekend ended speculation about the possibility of changing the Constitution to prolong his term in office when he told a Central Committee meeting of the ruling party that he did not intend to seek a fourth term.The Namibian Constitution limits the president to two five-year terms.In 1999 a loophole allowed the ruling Swapo Party to amend the Constitution to allow Nujoma to stand for a third term.

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