Swapo reshuffles CC regional reps

SWAPO, at its last Central Committee meeting of 2005, reassigned some of its national leaders to new regions. This decision followed recent events where so-called ‘illegal’ conferences were held in some regions as the party prepared to lay the groundwork for the 2007 congress where a new leadership is expected to take over.

The most notable meeting took place in the Otjozondjupa Region where a regional conference was held in the absence of its chairperson Otto Iipinge, and people elected who were not in the favour of those supporting the party leader Sam Nujoma. Otjozondjupa is seen as one of Nujoma’s key areas and played a major part in the last extra-ordinary congress where President Hifikepunye Pohamba was elected.In the new assignments decided upon in December, Trade Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko kept his position as Chairperson of Otjozondjupa Region and will be assisted by Justice Deputy Minister Uutoni Nujoma and Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Leon Jooste, both of them ‘weekend residents’ of the region.Another hot spot on the Swapo map, Omaheke Region, was given to former Prime Minister Hage Geingob who will lead a group consisting of Deputy Youth Minister Pohamba Shifeta, Deputy Trade Minister Bernhard Esau, Deputy Education Minister Dr Becky Ndjoze-Ojo and former MPs Kaire Mbuende and Clara Bohitile.Hidipo Hamutenya, the man at the centre of much of the controversy in the party, is the chairperson of leaders assigned to the Karas Region and will be assisted by Fisheries Minister Dr Abraham Iyambo, Environment Minister Willem Konjore and MPs Ida Hoffman and Hansina Christiaan.In the Omusati Region, Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is the chairperson, assisted by former MP Phillemon Malima, Deputy Speaker Doreen Sioka and Deputy Health Minister Petrina Haingura.Minister of Information and Broadcasting Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is the chairperson for Hardap and will work there with Agriculture Deputy Minister Paul Smit and MPs Reggie Diergaardt and Lucia Basson.For the Caprivi Region Works Minister Joël Kaapanda is the chairperson with Defence Minister Charles Namoloh, Deputy Minister of Information Raphael Dinyando, Deputy of Defence Victor Simunja and Presidential Affairs Minister Albert Kawana assisting.In the Caprivi Region Foreign Affairs Minister Marco Hausiku will be the chairperson and will work with Youth Minister John Mutorwa, Home Affairs Minister Rosalia Nghidinwa, Minister of Health Richard Kamwi and Swapo Women Council Secretary Eunice Iipinge.Kunene South: Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila (chairperson), Labour Minister Alpheus !Naruseb and MPs Eveline !Nawases and Moses Amweelo.Kunene North: Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba (chairperson), Director General of the National Planning Commission Helmut Angula, Labour Deputy Minister Petrus Iilonga and MPs Angelika Muharukua, Chief Samuel Ankama.Ohangwena: Erkki Nghimtina (chairperson), Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Lempy Lucas, Hadino Hishongwa and Mzee Simon Kaukungwa.Other regions are as follows: Oshikoto: Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana (chairperson), John Shaetonhodi, Elia Kaiyamo and Tommy Nambahu.Erongo: Safety Minister Peter Tshirumbu Tsheehama (chairperson), Finance Deputy Minister Tjekero Tweya, Gender Equality Minister Marlene Mungunda, MP Hans Booys and Risto Kapenda.Oshana: Deputy Safety Minister Gabes Shihepo (chairperson), Loide Kasingo, Clemens Kashuupulwa and Kandy Nehova.Khomas: Swapo Chief Whip Ben Amathila (chairperson), Agriculture Minister Nickey Iyambo and MP Alexia Manombe-Ncube.Tsumkwe Special Area: Deputy Local Government Minister Kazenambo Kazenambo (chairperson), Deputy Home Affairs Minister Theopolina Mushelenga, Lands Deputy Minister Isak Katali, Kaire Mbuende and Royal UIO /OO/ JK.Omatako Special Area: Minister of Lands Jerry Ekandjo, Mosé Tjitendero, Ponhele ya France and Peya Mushelenga.Windhoek East Special Area: Prime Minister Nahas Angula (chairperson), Matheus Shikongo and Hartmut Ruppel.Otjozondjupa is seen as one of Nujoma’s key areas and played a major part in the last extra-ordinary congress where President Hifikepunye Pohamba was elected.In the new assignments decided upon in December, Trade Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko kept his position as Chairperson of Otjozondjupa Region and will be assisted by Justice Deputy Minister Uutoni Nujoma and Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Leon Jooste, both of them ‘weekend residents’ of the region.Another hot spot on the Swapo map, Omaheke Region, was given to former Prime Minister Hage Geingob who will lead a group consisting of Deputy Youth Minister Pohamba Shifeta, Deputy Trade Minister Bernhard Esau, Deputy Education Minister Dr Becky Ndjoze-Ojo and former MPs Kaire Mbuende and Clara Bohitile. Hidipo Hamutenya, the man at the centre of much of the controversy in the party, is the chairperson of leaders assigned to the Karas Region and will be assisted by Fisheries Minister Dr Abraham Iyambo, Environment Minister Willem Konjore and MPs Ida Hoffman and Hansina Christiaan.In the Omusati Region, Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is the chairperson, assisted by former MP Phillemon Malima, Deputy Speaker Doreen Sioka and Deputy Health Minister Petrina Haingura.Minister of Information and Broadcasting Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is the chairperson for Hardap and will work there with Agriculture Deputy Minister Paul Smit and MPs Reggie Diergaardt and Lucia Basson.For the Caprivi Region Works Minister Joël Kaapanda is the chairperson with Defence Minister Charles Namoloh, Deputy Minister of Information Raphael Dinyando, Deputy of Defence Victor Simunja and Presidential Affairs Minister Albert Kawana assisting.In the Caprivi Region Foreign Affairs Minister Marco Hausiku will be the chairperson and will work with Youth Minister John Mutorwa, Home Affairs Minister Rosalia Nghidinwa, Minister of Health Richard Kamwi and Swapo Women Council Secretary Eunice Iipinge.Kunene South: Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila (chairperson), Labour Minister Alpheus !Naruseb and MPs Eveline !Nawases and Moses Amweelo.Kunene North: Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba (chairperson), Director General of the National Planning Commission Helmut Angula, Labour Deputy Minister Petrus Iilonga and MPs Angelika Muharukua, Chief Samuel Ankama.Ohangwena: Erkki Nghimtina (chairperson), Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Lempy Lucas, Hadino Hishongwa and Mzee Simon Kaukungwa.Other regions are as follows: Oshikoto: Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana (chairperson), John Shaetonhodi, Elia Kaiyamo and Tommy Nambahu.Erongo: Safety Minister Peter Tshirumbu Tsheehama (chairperson), Finance Deputy Minister Tjekero Tweya, Gender Equality Minister Marlene Mungunda, MP Hans Booys and Risto Kapenda.Oshana: Deputy Safety Minister Gabes Shihepo (chairperson), Loide Kasingo, Clemens Kashuupulwa and Kandy Nehova.Khomas: Swapo Chief Whip Ben Amathila (chairperson), Agriculture Minister Nickey Iyambo and MP Alexia Manombe-Ncube.Tsumkwe Special Area: Deputy Local Government Minister Kazenambo Kazenambo (chairperson), Deputy Home Affairs Minister Theopolina Mushelenga, Lands Deputy Minister Isak Katali, Kaire Mbuende and Royal UIO /OO/ JK.Omatako Special Area: Minister of Lands Jerry Ekandjo, Mosé Tjitendero, Ponhele ya France and Peya Mushelenga.Windhoek East Special Area: Prime Minister Nahas Angula (chairperson), Matheus Shikongo and Hartmut Ruppel.