Twist in race for positions in Swapo

DEPUTY Speaker of Parliament Doreen Sioka says she has no ambitions to stand for the position of Deputy Secretary General at next week’s Swapo congress.

Sioka’s name was thrown into the mix of surprise packages that sources said would be unleashed at the congress. The idea was for some individuals to take the floor and nominate Sioka and Lands Minister Jerry Ekandjo to challenge for the position of Deputy Secretary General and that of Swapo Vice President.The alleged challenge of Ekandjo for Geingob was particularly seen as a major surprise, given that the nominations came from the Politburo in which both sit.Sources said the addition of Ekandjo’s name was the “talk of the town and within Swapo”.However, no one has so far confirmed who will nominate Ekandjo.Yesterday, Sioka said she had no ambition for any of the top four positions.She reacted after a local daily reported that the party’s regional co-ordinator in Kavango, Vincent Likoro, had been travelling to several regions to lobby for her.Although The Namibian was unable to verify the information with Likoro, Sioka issued a statement in which she condemned his actions.”I find it abhorrent that Mr Likoro will just add to the present political confusion by mentioning people’s names in printed articles without verification with the concerned persons.”Without fear or favour, I challenge anyone to produce evidence, even on hearsay, that I have at any point of my life expressed ambitions for top four positions in the Swapo party,” Sioka said.She called on Swapo members to be disciplined and focused as the congress draws closer.The Politburo has proposed Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba and Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as candidates for the position of the Deputy Secretary General.However, Swapo Secretary General Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange said earlier that anyone was at liberty to nominate someone else at Sunday’s Central Committee meeting or at the congress, which starts on Tuesday.Menawhile, Tjiriange has confirmed that he had indeed travelled to Ohangwena to attend a meeting with the party’s regional leaders.”I called the regional executive and briefed them on the preparations for the congress.There were questions asked about the new party and I said ‘yes there is a new party’,” Tjiriange said yesterday.He was denying a report which said he had requested several Swapo leaders in Ohangwena to take an oath of allegiance to the party.”I said that those who join (RDP) must do it openly and get out of Swapo.Either you are within or you are out,” Tjiriange said.He said the meeting was a general approach to all members of the party and he did not single out individuals.”I just told them not to hibernate in Swapo,” he said.Also according to Tjiriange, he met Mines Minister Erkki Nghimtina “by chance” and did not travel with him to the North on a plane.The Namibian reported yesterday that Tjiriange and Nghimtina went there to get an oath from regional councillors Karlous Max Shinohamba (Eehana constituency), Usco Hiyavela Nambinga (Helao Nafidi constituency) and Urias Nghidinihamba Ndilula (Engela constituency).The idea was for some individuals to take the floor and nominate Sioka and Lands Minister Jerry Ekandjo to challenge for the position of Deputy Secretary General and that of Swapo Vice President.The alleged challenge of Ekandjo for Geingob was particularly seen as a major surprise, given that the nominations came from the Politburo in which both sit.Sources said the addition of Ekandjo’s name was the “talk of the town and within Swapo”.However, no one has so far confirmed who will nominate Ekandjo.Yesterday, Sioka said she had no ambition for any of the top four positions.She reacted after a local daily reported that the party’s regional co-ordinator in Kavango, Vincent Likoro, had been travelling to several regions to lobby for her.Although The Namibian was unable to verify the information with Likoro, Sioka issued a statement in which she condemned his actions.”I find it abhorrent that Mr Likoro will just add to the present political confusion by mentioning people’s names in printed articles without verification with the concerned persons. “Without fear or favour, I challenge anyone to produce evidence, even on hearsay, that I have at any point of my life expressed ambitions for top four positions in the Swapo party,” Sioka said.She called on Swapo members to be disciplined and focused as the congress draws closer.The Politburo has proposed Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba and Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as candidates for the position of the Deputy Secretary General.However, Swapo Secretary General Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange said earlier that anyone was at liberty to nominate someone else at Sunday’s Central Committee meeting or at the congress, which starts on Tuesday.Menawhile, Tjiriange has confirmed that he had indeed travelled to Ohangwena to attend a meeting with the party’s regional leaders.”I called the regional executive and briefed them on the preparations for the congress.There were questions asked about the new party and I said ‘yes there is a new party’,” Tjiriange said yesterday.He was denying a report which said he had requested several Swapo leaders in Ohangwena to take an oath of allegiance to the party.”I said that those who join (RDP) must do it openly and get out of Swapo.Either you are within or you are out,” Tjiriange said.He said the meeting was a general approach to all members of the party and he did not single out individuals.”I just told them not to hibernate in Swapo,” he said.Also according to Tjiriange, he met Mines Minister Erkki Nghimtina “by chance” and did not travel with him to the North on a plane.The Namibian reported yesterday that Tjiriange and Nghimtina went there to get an oath from regional councillors Karlous Max Shinohamba (Eehana constituency), Usco Hiyavela Nambinga (Helao Nafidi constituency) and Urias Nghidinihamba Ndilula (Engela constituency).