Tension grips Swapo

AS the clock ticks down to the Swapo Party’s watershed special Congress, many people, particularly delegates, were yesterday still in the dark about the venue or even whether the meeting would go ahead as planned.

With less than 48 hours to go before the ruling party chooses its presidential candidate, a lack of clarity on the venue is fuelling speculation, rumours and paranoia – triggered by President Sam Nujoma’s unceremonious dismissal of a Cabinet member. Nujoma “relieved” Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya, a presidential contender, and his deputy of their positions on Monday without replacing either of them.The extraordinary dismissal of Hamutenya has also left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without a political head.Unanswered questions remain about Hamutenya’s dismissal.Nujoma has not publicly talked about the issue since he caused a national stir with a terse press statement saying Hamutenya and Dr Kaire Mbuende, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, had been dismissed “with immediate effect”.Some sources claim Nujoma dismissed the two because of alleged unauthorised involvement in the internal Swapo primary elections in the Omaheke Region.The elections were nullified in January when Swapo Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange called them “a mistake”.No action had been taken until Hamutenya’s sacking, nor has any proof been offered of his alleged involvement.Asked about the possible reason on Tuesday, Hamutenya said “I don’t know”.Since the President’s bombshell announcement, Swapo leaders, with the exception of Nahas Angula, who is also a presidential nominee, have lain low and have not responded to questions about the dismissal.Swapo spokesperson Netumbo Ndaitwah said last night the matter had nothing to do with the party.Ndaitwah, who is also the Minister of Women and Child Welfare, said she was not aware of the reason for the dismissals.The Women Affairs Minister did however reveal that the Congress would be held at the Windhoek Showgrounds, and played down suggestions of confusion surrounding the meeting.”As I’m talking to you now, I know the Congress is going to take place” on May 28 and 29 and “there is one agenda item”.Higher Education Minister Nahas Angula confirmed at a press conference yesterday that some delegates had been asking him about the venue of the Congress and that he had referred them to the head office.Ndaitwah said that “whoever is confused should go to the leadership of the party structures” – a reference to Swapo wings and affiliates.Angula said at the press conference that he believed the Congress would take place as scheduled.”In my view, the Congress will take place, everything being equal, and watch that one, everything being equal,” said an upbeat Angula who claimed he would win the election by 60 per cent in the first round.Some delegates said they believed the venue was deliberately being kept secret until the last minute to confuse them and to benefit Nujoma’s candidate, Pohamba, particularly against Hamutenya.Ndaitwah said more than 500 people would attend the Congress.She categorically denied that attempts were being made to block some delegates.Ndaitwah dismissed reports that National Council Chairman Kandy Nehova had been suspended from the party as part of “manoeuvres” to boost Pohamba’s chances.”There is no room for” manoeuvres because people who attended the last Congress would be the same again, except where the leadership has changed or a person had died, she said.Nujoma “relieved” Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya, a presidential contender, and his deputy of their positions on Monday without replacing either of them.The extraordinary dismissal of Hamutenya has also left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without a political head.Unanswered questions remain about Hamutenya’s dismissal.Nujoma has not publicly talked about the issue since he caused a national stir with a terse press statement saying Hamutenya and Dr Kaire Mbuende, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, had been dismissed “with immediate effect”.Some sources claim Nujoma dismissed the two because of alleged unauthorised involvement in the internal Swapo primary elections in the Omaheke Region.The elections were nullified in January when Swapo Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange called them “a mistake”.No action had been taken until Hamutenya’s sacking, nor has any proof been offered of his alleged involvement.Asked about the possible reason on Tuesday, Hamutenya said “I don’t know”.Since the President’s bombshell announcement, Swapo leaders, with the exception of Nahas Angula, who is also a presidential nominee, have lain low and have not responded to questions about the dismissal.Swapo spokesperson Netumbo Ndaitwah said last night the matter had nothing to do with the party.Ndaitwah, who is also the Minister of Women and Child Welfare, said she was not aware of the reason for the dismissals.The Women Affairs Minister did however reveal that the Congress would be held at the Windhoek Showgrounds, and played down suggestions of confusion surrounding the meeting.”As I’m talking to you now, I know the Congress is going to take place” on May 28 and 29 and “there is one agenda item”.Higher Education Minister Nahas Angula confirmed at a press conference yesterday that some delegates had been asking him about the venue of the Congress and that he had referred them to the head office.Ndaitwah said that “whoever is confused should go to the leadership of the party structures” – a reference to Swapo wings and affiliates.Angula said at the press conference that he believed the Congress would take place as scheduled.”In my view, the Congress will take place, everything being equal, and watch that one, everything being equal,” said an upbeat Angula who claimed he would win the election by 60 per cent in the first round.Some delegates said they believed the venue was deliberately being kept secret until the last minute to confuse them and to benefit Nujoma’s candidate, Pohamba, particularly against Hamutenya.Ndaitwah said more than 500 people would attend the Congress.She categorically denied that attempts were being made to block some delegates.Ndaitwah dismissed reports that National Council Chairman Kandy Nehova had been suspended from the party as part of “manoeuvres” to boost Pohamba’s chances.”There is no room for” manoeuvres because people who attended the last Congress would be the same again, except where the leadership has changed or a person had died, she said.