Support Hage or resign from Swapo
Those who do not support President Hage Geingob's candidacy for the Swapo top position should leave the party, a northern businessman has said.
Northern businessman Sigo Amunyela has called on those Swapo members opposing President Hage Geingob's list for the party's top four positions at next month's elective congress to rather resign from the party.
Last week at a politburo meeting President Geingob revealed his list of preferred candidates for the top four positions, which includes himself as candidate for the Swapo presidency, international relations minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for vice president, urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa for secretary-general and former deputy prime minister Marco Hausiku for the deputy secretary position.
Geingob's decision was not generally welcomed as it created tension within the party, with some even saying that it divided party members ahead of the congress, something which they say is a first for the party.
Former prime minister Nahas Angula and current sport minister Jerry Ekandjo are said to be eyeing the number-one spot too.
Meanwhile, as in 2012, Amunyela has come out once more in support of Geingob, whom he then strongly campaigned for to be the vice-president of the party.
Yesterday, Amunyela held a press conference in Oshakati where he told the media that he is a campaigner for Geingob becoming president of Swapo at next month's congress.
Speaking on behalf of what he called 'Team Hage', Amunyela said they were shocked when senior party members reacted negatively to Geingob's list.
“We are shocked and surprised by the reactions of some senior members of Swapo when Geingob announced that he would stand for president of the party and announced the team which will assist him,” Amunyela said.
Amunyela described those members as “rowdy” and added they were acting out of jealousy because they were not nominated by the president.
“Despite all the badmouthing about President Geingob's choice of top four candidates, we want to tell the rowdy comrades that they must stop being jealous because they were not nominated,” Amunyela said.
“Why do they think that they are the ones who have the abilities and competencies to lead Swapo? If they don't believe in him then they must resign and leave the government under Comrade Geingob,” Amunyela further said.
When asked whether he wanted Geingob to run uncontested for the top Swapo seat, Amunyela said Namibia is a free country but Team Hage wanted Geingob as president of Swapo.
When asked whether he had received instructions from Geingob to campaign for him, Amunyela neither confirmed nor denied it, but said it was his right to openly campaign for his preferred candidate.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Last week at a politburo meeting President Geingob revealed his list of preferred candidates for the top four positions, which includes himself as candidate for the Swapo presidency, international relations minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for vice president, urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa for secretary-general and former deputy prime minister Marco Hausiku for the deputy secretary position.
Geingob's decision was not generally welcomed as it created tension within the party, with some even saying that it divided party members ahead of the congress, something which they say is a first for the party.
Former prime minister Nahas Angula and current sport minister Jerry Ekandjo are said to be eyeing the number-one spot too.
Meanwhile, as in 2012, Amunyela has come out once more in support of Geingob, whom he then strongly campaigned for to be the vice-president of the party.
Yesterday, Amunyela held a press conference in Oshakati where he told the media that he is a campaigner for Geingob becoming president of Swapo at next month's congress.
Speaking on behalf of what he called 'Team Hage', Amunyela said they were shocked when senior party members reacted negatively to Geingob's list.
“We are shocked and surprised by the reactions of some senior members of Swapo when Geingob announced that he would stand for president of the party and announced the team which will assist him,” Amunyela said.
Amunyela described those members as “rowdy” and added they were acting out of jealousy because they were not nominated by the president.
“Despite all the badmouthing about President Geingob's choice of top four candidates, we want to tell the rowdy comrades that they must stop being jealous because they were not nominated,” Amunyela said.
“Why do they think that they are the ones who have the abilities and competencies to lead Swapo? If they don't believe in him then they must resign and leave the government under Comrade Geingob,” Amunyela further said.
When asked whether he wanted Geingob to run uncontested for the top Swapo seat, Amunyela said Namibia is a free country but Team Hage wanted Geingob as president of Swapo.
When asked whether he had received instructions from Geingob to campaign for him, Amunyela neither confirmed nor denied it, but said it was his right to openly campaign for his preferred candidate.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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