Swapo 2024 extraordinary congress a must – Helmut
Swapo veteran Helmut Angula says the ruling party must hold an extraordinary congress within the time prescribed by its constitution in order to fill the party president position, which became vacant last month following the death of president Hage Geingob.
He pointed to a provision in the party constitution which requires that in circumstances such as the death of the party leader, an extraordinary congress must be called to find a replacement.
“The right thing to do is that an extraordinary congress must happen,” Angula said.
Media reports allege that a politburo meeting held last week resolved to suggest to the central committee this weekend that the extraordinary congress be pushed to 2025, which is contrary to the 90-day constitutional provision.
The idea to push it to 2025, according to Swapo sources, is to ensure that Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s candidacy for the national presidential election is unhindered and that intra-party unity is maintained.
Nandi-Ndaitwah became the party’s candidate after retaining the position of vice-president at the 2022 elective congress.
Geingob’s death on 4 February means the party must start the process of identifying its candidate – for which Nandi-Ndaitwah is the overwhelming favourite – afresh.
No challengers
With no challengers anticipated for the position of party president, constitutionalists believe Nandi-Ndaitwah can be elevated to that position legitimately, without seeking shortcuts that would violate the constitution.
All positions in Swapo structures are elective, but they can also be attained by acclamation if there are no challengers to a candidate that is standing for a position.
Angula said anyone who seeks to fill the position of president can be nominated at central committee and be voted for at congress. In the absence of challengers, the nominee can ascend to the position automatically. The latter scenario is anticipated in favour of Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Angula added that if Nandi-Ndaitwah wants to contest for the party presidency position, she must first resign as vice-president and avail herself as candidate for the position at the extraordinary congress.
“If you want to stand, you have to vacate your position in order to contest for the other,” he explained.
Not interested
Angula yesterday poured cold water over suggestions that he might throw his name in the hat for party president.
“I'm not interested,” he said emphatically.
At the 2017 congress, he vied for the Swapo vice-president position, losing out to Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The Swapo veteran said it is misplaced fear to suggest that holding an extraordinary congress ahead of the general election in November would divide the party.
“I think that fear is misplaced. Because the decision by congress is binding on everybody,” he said.
“Congress hangover comes from the reluctance of the winning leader who is not willing to treat members equally.
“That's an African phenomenon. Where you don't want to sit with somebody who competed against you, but all along, you were together, you fought together. Suddenly, because I say I want to also take the same power, I become your enemy.”
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He pointed to a provision in the party constitution which requires that in circumstances such as the death of the party leader, an extraordinary congress must be called to find a replacement.
“The right thing to do is that an extraordinary congress must happen,” Angula said.
Media reports allege that a politburo meeting held last week resolved to suggest to the central committee this weekend that the extraordinary congress be pushed to 2025, which is contrary to the 90-day constitutional provision.
The idea to push it to 2025, according to Swapo sources, is to ensure that Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s candidacy for the national presidential election is unhindered and that intra-party unity is maintained.
Nandi-Ndaitwah became the party’s candidate after retaining the position of vice-president at the 2022 elective congress.
Geingob’s death on 4 February means the party must start the process of identifying its candidate – for which Nandi-Ndaitwah is the overwhelming favourite – afresh.
No challengers
With no challengers anticipated for the position of party president, constitutionalists believe Nandi-Ndaitwah can be elevated to that position legitimately, without seeking shortcuts that would violate the constitution.
All positions in Swapo structures are elective, but they can also be attained by acclamation if there are no challengers to a candidate that is standing for a position.
Angula said anyone who seeks to fill the position of president can be nominated at central committee and be voted for at congress. In the absence of challengers, the nominee can ascend to the position automatically. The latter scenario is anticipated in favour of Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Angula added that if Nandi-Ndaitwah wants to contest for the party presidency position, she must first resign as vice-president and avail herself as candidate for the position at the extraordinary congress.
“If you want to stand, you have to vacate your position in order to contest for the other,” he explained.
Not interested
Angula yesterday poured cold water over suggestions that he might throw his name in the hat for party president.
“I'm not interested,” he said emphatically.
At the 2017 congress, he vied for the Swapo vice-president position, losing out to Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The Swapo veteran said it is misplaced fear to suggest that holding an extraordinary congress ahead of the general election in November would divide the party.
“I think that fear is misplaced. Because the decision by congress is binding on everybody,” he said.
“Congress hangover comes from the reluctance of the winning leader who is not willing to treat members equally.
“That's an African phenomenon. Where you don't want to sit with somebody who competed against you, but all along, you were together, you fought together. Suddenly, because I say I want to also take the same power, I become your enemy.”
[email protected]
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