Namibia: Ruling Celebration Chooses Girl as Presidential Candidate

THE congress that elected Swapo vice chairman Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah because the get together’s subsequent presidential candidate for the 2024 elections has been lauded by analysts.

This might, nonetheless, be marred by alleged election irregularities that might hang-out the ruling get together.

There may be suspicion from some delegates that the listing of Swapo central committee members included individuals who weren’t purported to be on it.

These may result in courtroom challenges, sources say.

Nandi-Ndaitwah was yesterday successfully confirmed as Swapo’s presidential candidate and president Hage Geingob’s successor.

She beat prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and minister of setting, forestry and tourism Pohamba Shifeta.

Nandi-Ndaitwah garnered 491 votes, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila obtained 270, and Pohamba Shifeta 91.

Secretary basic Sophia Shaningwa retained her place with 430 votes by defeating Oshikoto regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu, who obtained 343 votes.

Uahekua Herunga, who contested for the deputy secretary basic place, scooped 363 votes, Evelyn Nawases-Taayele acquired 326, and David Hamutenya obtained 92 votes.

President Hage Geingob yesterday introduced Nandi-Ndaitwah as Swapo’s presidential candidate for 2024’s presidential election.

“I want to inform her that her process mendacity forward is heavy. Yours actually is simply standing in, there can be a congress earlier than 2024 to formally give the wheel to make you to take over my place,” he stated.

Geingob was re-elected at yesterday’s congress because the ruling get together’s president.

The president yesterday tried to painting a united ruling get together management regardless of a bruising marketing campaign that included identify calling.

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s workforce was code-named ‘Outdated Mutual’ in reference to her age.

Geingob referred to as the dropping candidates onto the stage, urging them to share a hug with the winner.

Whereas on the rostrum, he condemned The Namibian’s headline yesterday saying the ruling get together’s congress was rocked by chaos.

“What chaos?” he requested.

Now, recent issues are linked to the presiding officer’s determination to get rid of Evelyn Nawases-Tayele from the deputy secretary basic race, regardless of coming second to Kavango West regional coordinator David Amutenya with 326 votes.

Sources acquainted with the voting course of have described the election course of as “extremely irregular”.

Swapo congress nationwide election committee spokesperson Audrin Mathe denied these allegations.

He stated the voters’ roll credentials have been authorized by the congress.

“We have been solely given the listing. The one concern that was there was {that a} man appeared on a feminine listing and vice versa,” he stated.

Mathe stated delegates with out ID playing cards needed to full varieties.

“If you do not have an ID, then we are able to settle for a driving licence. There are situations the place candidates misplaced their ID playing cards. I’m conscious of 1 case. She went to make an affidavit and we accepted,” he stated.

Mathe stated the get together’s zebra-style rule allowed election officers to take away Nawases-Tayele from the race.

“The foundations make it clear that the highest 4 ought to have a stability between women and men,” he stated.

SAARA ACCEPTS DEFEAT

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila yesterday after the bulletins stated the elections concerned a democratic Swapo course of.

“Swapo discharged one other mandate with distinction. Now we have run a congress that met worldwide requirements, and that is all we got here right here to do. It was by no means about personalities. Swapo gained,” she informed New Period after the congress.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila acquired 221 fewer votes than Nandi-Ndaitwah.

Her marketing campaign was led by corruption-accused former mines minister Obeth Kandjoze and politburo member Tobie Aupindi.

Shaningwa yesterday informed New Period her re-election exhibits she is trusted by the citizens.

Minister of defence and veterans affairs Frans Kapofi, who withdrew from the race in September, yesterday stated Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory comes as no shock.

“It’s apparent. You’re coping with individuals who have totally different sorts of backgrounds and experiences in politics, and that’s what you get,” he stated.

Kapofi denied claims that the dominance of the Ohangwena area was the explanation for Nandi-Ndaitwah’s win.

“There isn’t a such factor,” he stated.

Kapofi stated Nandi-Ndaitwah’s age brings the knowledge the get together at the moment wants.

The get together’s youth league secretary, Ephraim Nekongo, positioned emphasis on unity, telling the opposite candidates to maneuver on.

“What’s essential now could be for us to unite as a celebration and transfer on in order that we come to 2024 to see how we mobilise the lots.

“Now we have supplied the primary girl president, and it’s now as much as different girls,” he stated.

Swapo chief whip Hambyuka Hamunyera informed the dropping candidates there can be “one other time” for them.

Hamunyera, who was additionally an election observer, stated the polling stations closed at 22:22 on Sunday and vote counting began at 02:15 yesterday.

He described the method as lengthy and difficult.

“However we confronted these challenges and we’re right here,” he stated.

The chief whip stated they wished a lady president to make some adjustments.

Hamunyera stated the Kavango East and West areas helped Nandi-Ndaitwah and Shaningwa with their wins.

Swapo lawmaker Lucia Witbooi, who supported Nandi-Ndaitwah, yesterday stated she has been working for this end result since final 12 months.

“I did not begin yesterday,” she stated.

Witbooi insisted that her withdrawal from the race for the deputy secretary basic place was the correct determination, and denied claims that it was accomplished to create space for male candidates.

Witbooi made it clear that it’s the total get together’s accountability to win again the south, which is dominated by the Landless Individuals’s Motion.

“It isn’t a Lucia factor alone. It’s the accountability of all of us – from the part leaders, department, district, regional and nationwide management to verify and to work exhausting to verify the south and all of the areas now we have misplaced . . . ” she stated.

OVERWHELMING VOTES

Political analyst Graham Hopwood says the overwhelming votes in favour of Nandi-Ndaitwah and Shaningwa ought to make it doable for the get together to unite behind them.

“Below Ndaitwah the get together could have a reputable chief to place ahead on the 2024 elections, one that might stabilise the get together’s vote and even allow a rebound,” he says.

Hopwood believes the strongest card for Nandi-Ndaitwah was being the anti-corruption candidate.

“I believe this helped her to face out from the opposite candidates,” Hopwood says.

He says relying on how the get together now handles this shift in energy might be Swapo’s second breath.