Showdown looms over fourth term

A POSSIBLE fourth term for President Sam Nujoma, or a referendum on the issue, will not be discussed at a Swapo Central Committee meeting which starts in the capital today.

Senior Swapo leaders who spoke to The Namibian separately yesterday ruled out any discussion on the issue. They said the CC meeting would prepare for the ruling party’s extraordinary congress in May when a successor to President Nujoma is expected to be named.Their reaction sent a signal that Nujoma might face a similar revolt to one he encountered in August last year when he tried to bulldoze the Swapo Central Committee into toeing his line.Also, at last year’s Congress Nujoma was forced to drop plans to nominate 21 women to the CC and was accused of dictatorial behaviour.Sources indicated to The Namibian yesterday that, at a Politburo meeting on Monday, Nujoma had tried to push for Swapo Vice President Hifikepunye Pohamba to be the party’s sole candidate for the presidency.However, he was blocked by Politburo members who felt that the presidential race should be open.One Minister remarked that the President had created the impression that they were being given a choice:of Nujoma going for a fourth term or accepting Pohamba as the next president.”We know why someone was appointed to push for the referendum.They have a two-way strategy.If Pohamba is not approved, a referendum is the other option but we are ready for that,” said another senior Swapo member.He was apparently referring to the appointment of Justice Minister Dr Albert Kawana.Swapo sources have, in the past, claimed that Tjiriange was removed because he was reluctant to initiate the referendum.According to some political observers, procedurally it is now almost impossible to push for a referendum.A legal expert said the Constitution would have to be changed before a referendum was called.Both moves would need to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and the National Council.”It is not that easy.We also need to look at how much it will cost to have a referendum.It is an election on its own with a budget of roughly N$10 million,” another source said.Approached for comment yesterday, Swapo Secretary General Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange refused to be drawn into commenting on a fourth term or a referendum.”We do not meet as a fire brigade.The meeting is not because there is a crisis.We are an organised body that plans,” Tjiriange said.He said today’s meeting was called to put everything in place for the upcoming Congress.Secretary for Information Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah also avoided commenting on a fourth term or referendum.All she would say was that the 83-strong Central Committee would finalise the date of the Congress and the rules and procedures for the election of the party’s candidates for the presidential and general elections later this year.”The meeting is meant to prepare the extraordinary congress only,” she told The Namibian.They said the CC meeting would prepare for the ruling party’s extraordinary congress in May when a successor to President Nujoma is expected to be named.Their reaction sent a signal that Nujoma might face a similar revolt to one he encountered in August last year when he tried to bulldoze the Swapo Central Committee into toeing his line.Also, at last year’s Congress Nujoma was forced to drop plans to nominate 21 women to the CC and was accused of dictatorial behaviour.Sources indicated to The Namibian yesterday that, at a Politburo meeting on Monday, Nujoma had tried to push for Swapo Vice President Hifikepunye Pohamba to be the party’s sole candidate for the presidency.However, he was blocked by Politburo members who felt that the presidential race should be open.One Minister remarked that the President had created the impression that they were being given a choice:of Nujoma going for a fourth term or accepting Pohamba as the next president.”We know why someone was appointed to push for the referendum.They have a two-way strategy.If Pohamba is not approved, a referendum is the other option but we are ready for that,” said another senior Swapo member.He was apparently referring to the appointment of Justice Minister Dr Albert Kawana.Swapo sources have, in the past, claimed that Tjiriange was removed because he was reluctant to initiate the referendum.According to some political observers, procedurally it is now almost impossible to push for a referendum.A legal expert said the Constitution would have to be changed before a referendum was called.Both moves would need to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and the National Council.”It is not that easy.We also need to look at how much it will cost to have a referendum.It is an election on its own with a budget of roughly N$10 million,” another source said.Approached for comment yesterday, Swapo Secretary General Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange refused to be drawn into commenting on a fourth term or a referendum.”We do not meet as a fire brigade.The meeting is not because there is a crisis.We are an organised body that plans,” Tjiriange said.He said today’s meeting was called to put everything in place for the upcoming Congress.Secretary for Information Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah also avoided commenting on a fourth term or referendum.All she would say was that the 83-strong Central Committee would finalise the date of the Congress and the rules and procedures for the election of the party’s candidates for the presidential and general elections later this year.”The meeting is meant to prepare the extraordinary congress only,” she told The Namibian.