Pandeni drops out of race for top Swapo post

SWAPO Deputy Secretary General John Pandeni has withdrawn from the race for the Secretary General position, making Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana the outright favourite.

Pandeni’s withdrawal is as a result of a compromise reached in the famous Omusati-clique of the ruling party. With his withdrawal, Pandeni must now fight for a position in the Politburo in which he had been automatically serving for the past few years because of his position.Sources said Pandeni would garner enough votes to make it to the Politburo because supporters of Ithana, as well as President Hifikepunye Pohamba and former Prime Minister Hage Geingob, will throw their weight behind him.”If Pandeni and Ithana had stood, it would have split the votes and allowed (incumbent Dr Ngarikutuke) Tjiriange to win.That’s not what we want,” said one source.Pandeni’s withdrawal came amid reports that some delegates were summoned to “high places” to be given advice on how to vote.One source said there was a “99 per cent” chance that former Prime Minister Hage Geingob would be unopposed, because of the consultations in “high places”.Lands Minister Jerry Ekandjo was likely to challenge Geingob for the position of Swapo’s Vice President.His supporters have one more dice to throw at the congress after it did not materialise at the Politburo and Central Committee.If Ekandjo’s nomination comes, some said, it would have to be done by someone who does not sit in the Politburo or Central Committee as they had their chance already.However, all indications were that Ekandjo would not take up the challenge.The race for the Deputy Secretary General is a two-horse one with Nangolo Mbumba favoured to pip Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to the post.Both are ministers and have risen through the party’s ranks but sources said Mbumba was more prominent and will command the votes from district and regional levels.Although the exact details about the congress delegates were hard to come by, it will be attended by members of the Central Committee (83), 10 delegates elected from each of the regional executive committees (130), three delegates elected from each of the district executive committees (306), 15 delegates of the Youth League, 15 delegates from the Elders’ Council, 15 delegates of the National Union of Namibian Workers and 20 delegates representing the Women’s Council.Thus around 430 of the 580 votes (around 75 per cent) available will come from regional and district delegates.The key factor during the election will be how the candidates relate to outgoing Swapo President Sam Nujoma and anyone who openly play their cards by backing the “wrong horse” could find themselves marginalised – despite Swapo’s much-publicised electoral democracy – while those who work for the right candidate will get their reward later.With his withdrawal, Pandeni must now fight for a position in the Politburo in which he had been automatically serving for the past few years because of his position.Sources said Pandeni would garner enough votes to make it to the Politburo because supporters of Ithana, as well as President Hifikepunye Pohamba and former Prime Minister Hage Geingob, will throw their weight behind him.”If Pandeni and Ithana had stood, it would have split the votes and allowed (incumbent Dr Ngarikutuke) Tjiriange to win.That’s not what we want,” said one source.Pandeni’s withdrawal came amid reports that some delegates were summoned to “high places” to be given advice on how to vote.One source said there was a “99 per cent” chance that former Prime Minister Hage Geingob would be unopposed, because of the consultations in “high places”.Lands Minister Jerry Ekandjo was likely to challenge Geingob for the position of Swapo’s Vice President.His supporters have one more dice to throw at the congress after it did not materialise at the Politburo and Central Committee.If Ekandjo’s nomination comes, some said, it would have to be done by someone who does not sit in the Politburo or Central Committee as they had their chance already.However, all indications were that Ekandjo would not take up the challenge.The race for the Deputy Secretary General is a two-horse one with Nangolo Mbumba favoured to pip Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to the post.Both are ministers and have risen through the party’s ranks but sources said Mbumba was more prominent and will command the votes from district and regional levels. Although the exact details about the congress delegates were hard to come by, it will be attended by members of the Central Committee (83), 10 delegates elected from each of the regional executive committees (130), three delegates elected from each of the district executive committees (306), 15 delegates of the Youth League, 15 delegates from the Elders’ Council, 15 delegates of the National Union of Namibian Workers and 20 delegates representing the Women’s Council.Thus around 430 of the 580 votes (around 75 per cent) available will come from regional and district delegates.The key factor during the election will be how the candidates relate to outgoing Swapo President Sam Nujoma and anyone who openly play their cards by backing the “wrong horse” could find themselves marginalised – despite Swapo’s much-publicised electoral democracy – while those who work for the right candidate will get their reward later.