Swapo Youth push for ‘guided democracy’

SWAPO’S Youth League does not want elections at the forthcoming party Congress where the party’s leader for over 45 years, Sam Nujoma, is expected to hand over the reins.

Instead, the young members want the party’s Politburo to give the Congress four names – that of the President, Vice President, Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General – for endorsement. Elijah Ngurare, Secretary of the Youth League, said they did not want a repeat of the 2002 extraordinary congress, which was marred by backstabbing, character assassination and witch-hunting of those who supported the candidature of Hidipo Hamutenya.Hamutenya stood against President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Prime Minister Nahas Angula and was seen as one of the two main contenders.Days before the 2002 extraordinary Congress, Hamutenya, who was Foreign Affairs Minister, and his Deputy Dr Kaire Mbuende were dismissed by Nujoma.The rift in the party worsened to the extent that someone broke into the offices of former Trade and Industry Minister Jesaya Nyamu and found handwritten notes contemplating options for Hamutenya’s supporters in the party.Subsequently, the party’s Politburo expelled Nyamu.Ngurare said the Politburo and the Central Committee must exhaust all internal democratic processes and provide the Congress with only four names.”The (Swapo Youth League) CC took this decision with a view to preventing internal discontent between comrades and to ensure maximum unity among the party cadres,” he said.He said the meeting expressed “strong reservations” about any repeat of the 2002 extraordinary congress and called for “guided democracy” where the interests of the party reign supreme over the personal interests of individual members.Nujoma announced recently that he would step down next month as Swapo’s leader after 47 years.He retired as head of state in 2005 but continued to lead the party.When he made the announcement, Nujoma said he would like to hand over the reins to the party’s Vice President, Pohamba.At the moment, speculation is that Pohamba is not keen to run the country for another five years.Sources said Pohamba would be deputised by Hage Geingob at the party level and that he would hand over the reins to the former Prime Minister after two years to ensure a smooth transition.Geingob will then run the country and the party with current Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana as deputy, according to the sources.So far the party’s leaders have played their cards very close to their chests and there had been no word on the candidates for the other three top positions.Elijah Ngurare, Secretary of the Youth League, said they did not want a repeat of the 2002 extraordinary congress, which was marred by backstabbing, character assassination and witch-hunting of those who supported the candidature of Hidipo Hamutenya.Hamutenya stood against President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Prime Minister Nahas Angula and was seen as one of the two main contenders.Days before the 2002 extraordinary Congress, Hamutenya, who was Foreign Affairs Minister, and his Deputy Dr Kaire Mbuende were dismissed by Nujoma. The rift in the party worsened to the extent that someone broke into the offices of former Trade and Industry Minister Jesaya Nyamu and found handwritten notes contemplating options for Hamutenya’s supporters in the party.Subsequently, the party’s Politburo expelled Nyamu.Ngurare said the Politburo and the Central Committee must exhaust all internal democratic processes and provide the Congress with only four names.”The (Swapo Youth League) CC took this decision with a view to preventing internal discontent between comrades and to ensure maximum unity among the party cadres,” he said.He said the meeting expressed “strong reservations” about any repeat of the 2002 extraordinary congress and called for “guided democracy” where the interests of the party reign supreme over the personal interests of individual members.Nujoma announced recently that he would step down next month as Swapo’s leader after 47 years.He retired as head of state in 2005 but continued to lead the party.When he made the announcement, Nujoma said he would like to hand over the reins to the party’s Vice President, Pohamba.At the moment, speculation is that Pohamba is not keen to run the country for another five years.Sources said Pohamba would be deputised by Hage Geingob at the party level and that he would hand over the reins to the former Prime Minister after two years to ensure a smooth transition.Geingob will then run the country and the party with current Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana as deputy, according to the sources.So far the party’s leaders have played their cards very close to their chests and there had been no word on the candidates for the other three top positions.