Swapo central committee endorses Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as unopposed president ahead of extraordinary congress

Political commentators say they do not foresee any major division in Swapo after the central committee this weekend endorsed its vice president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, as the party’s unopposed president.

The central committee meeting was held in Windhoek on Saturday.

Nandi-Ndaitwah is set to be presented at the upcoming extraordinary congress scheduled for 7 to 9 March.

Party spokesperson Hilma Nicanor says the central committee decided to postpone the congress, which was scheduled to take place on 28 February, and reschedule it due to founding president Sam Nujoma’s state funeral.

“After careful consideration and deliberation in a show of unity and on the recommendation of its politburo, the central committee unanimously resolved that incumbent vice president and president-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah is the sole and authentic candidate to be elected, unopposed, as Swapo president to complete the unexpired term of late president Hage Geingob,” she said this weekend.

Political analyst Sacky Johannes says despite concerns of one sector of power, he does not foresee any division within the party.

“I do not see any division, because Swapo has adopted a culture where the party president is normally the president-elect of the country, which automatically qualifies her for the post,” he says.

He believes there may have been divisions had she not been endorsed.

“Imagine she loses the party president elections while she is the president of the country. It won’t work. Whoever holds the party presidency position has more power,” Johannes says.

He says this, however, compromises democracy, citing that such an endorsement is undemocratic.

Political analyst Rui Tyitende says he is not surprised by the move to endorse Nandi-Ndaitwah.

“Swapo has created a culture of not following its own policies,” he says.

He says it has become a common practice for Swapo members who are given powers to oversee government institutions to not follow policies.

Tyitende says he foresees the vice-president’s party post being left vacant till an appropriate time for members to campaign.

Meanwhile, in her opening address at this weekend’s central committee meeting, Nandi-Ndaitwah urged members and supporters to vigorously prepare to ensure the party emerges victorious at the regional and local authority elections later this year.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said Swapo needs to select and elect capable, committed, and visionary regional and local authority councillors to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.

This must be in accordance with the policies and programmes in Swapo’s election manifesto, she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia’s vast natural resources are enjoyed by a few at the expense of others.

“As party leaders and members, supporters and sympathisers, we must make sure Namibia’s resources are managed in a manner that will benefit all members of our society,” she said.