Swapo may seek PDM, AR deputy minister
Ruling party seeks to boost parliamentary dominance
The ruling party will have only 49 voting members in the National Assembly if the speaker and deputy are elected from the party.
Political analysts predict that president-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah might appoint an opposition member of parliament as a deputy minister to bolster Swapo's chances of maintaining tighter control in parliamentary votes.
The ruling party will have only 49 voting members in the National Assembly, compared to the opposition's 45, if, as expected, the speaker and deputy speaker are drawn from the ruling party’s 51 lawmakers.
If Nandi-Ndaitwah chooses this route - similar to the late President Hage Geingob’s decision in 2020 when he appointed Nudo's Esther Muinjangue as deputy health minister - it is believed she would consider a candidate from the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement, which holds six seats, or the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), which has five.
Muinjangue's appointment occurred despite Swapo holding 64 seats at the time.
“The ruling party needs a strong mandate in parliament, and appointing an opposition member as minister or deputy minister is one way of hoping that member's party would side with Swapo if a significant matter arises for a vote in the National Assembly,” a central committee member told Namibian Sun this week.
Swapo's 49 voting members provide an automatic majority over the opposition's 45, but it is understood that the party seeks a stronger buffer.
“If Swapo’s parliamentary majority is slim, it’s risky for us. What if some of our members are absent on the day of voting - perhaps travelling abroad, hospitalised, or simply on leave? The opposition could easily outnumber us,” the member added.
Swapo secured 53% of the vote in the 2024 National Assembly election, while Nandi-Ndaitwah won the presidential race with 57%.
While appointing an opposition figure as a full minister seems unlikely, doing so at the deputy minister level is not unprecedented under the Swapo government. Muinjangue is expected to leave parliament this month, having not sought re-election in the last election.
“If we decide to appoint someone from the opposition this time, it would have to be from a party with more seats than Nudo had in 2019 when they won only two seats. It’s not enough to appoint someone from a party with just one or two seats. You need that person to come from a party with more seats so they can influence their party MPs to vote with Swapo if needed,” the central committee member explained.
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), the incoming official opposition, is reportedly not seen as a viable partner by Swapo, according to party insiders.
Speaking to Namibian Sun on Wednesday, PDM leader McHenry Venaani said he would be open to the idea of a PDM member being appointed as a minister or deputy minister.
"We have not been approached by anyone, so it remains hypothetical. However, our movement is a mature party that is open to engaging with anyone if it serves the needs of Namibians," Venaani said.
A strategic move?
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah noted that Swapo’s strategy of co-opting an opposition MP could strengthen its parliamentary control, especially in a closely contested legislature.
“It would give them more control over passing legislation. However, this move is more about weakening the opposition than fostering genuine collaboration. It reduces the opposition’s influence and can create divisions within their ranks. True collaboration would mean engaging opposition parties on policy matters rather than absorbing individuals into government positions,” Kamwanyah told Namibian Sun.
Political analyst Rui Tyitende echoed this view, arguing that historically, such appointments have served the ruling party’s interests rather than the public’s.
“By accepting the position, Muinjangue was strategically neutralised by the governing party. She was inhibited from freely criticising the government of which she was a part,” Tyitende said.
He added: “In fact, she became more of a Swapo member than the president of Nudo, leading to the divisions that now plague her party. In short, knowingly or unknowingly, she was used to advance Swapo’s interests, hook, line, and sinker.”
When asked for comment, Swapo Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa remained tight-lipped.
“Just wait for the elected president to be sworn in. I am not the appointing authority,” she said.
[email protected]
POWER PLAY: Will Swapo strategically appoint a deputy minister from the opposition to strengthen its legislative dominance?
Photo: Contributed
The ruling party will have only 49 voting members in the National Assembly, compared to the opposition's 45, if, as expected, the speaker and deputy speaker are drawn from the ruling party’s 51 lawmakers.
If Nandi-Ndaitwah chooses this route - similar to the late President Hage Geingob’s decision in 2020 when he appointed Nudo's Esther Muinjangue as deputy health minister - it is believed she would consider a candidate from the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement, which holds six seats, or the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), which has five.
Muinjangue's appointment occurred despite Swapo holding 64 seats at the time.
“The ruling party needs a strong mandate in parliament, and appointing an opposition member as minister or deputy minister is one way of hoping that member's party would side with Swapo if a significant matter arises for a vote in the National Assembly,” a central committee member told Namibian Sun this week.
Swapo's 49 voting members provide an automatic majority over the opposition's 45, but it is understood that the party seeks a stronger buffer.
“If Swapo’s parliamentary majority is slim, it’s risky for us. What if some of our members are absent on the day of voting - perhaps travelling abroad, hospitalised, or simply on leave? The opposition could easily outnumber us,” the member added.
Swapo secured 53% of the vote in the 2024 National Assembly election, while Nandi-Ndaitwah won the presidential race with 57%.
While appointing an opposition figure as a full minister seems unlikely, doing so at the deputy minister level is not unprecedented under the Swapo government. Muinjangue is expected to leave parliament this month, having not sought re-election in the last election.
“If we decide to appoint someone from the opposition this time, it would have to be from a party with more seats than Nudo had in 2019 when they won only two seats. It’s not enough to appoint someone from a party with just one or two seats. You need that person to come from a party with more seats so they can influence their party MPs to vote with Swapo if needed,” the central committee member explained.
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), the incoming official opposition, is reportedly not seen as a viable partner by Swapo, according to party insiders.
Speaking to Namibian Sun on Wednesday, PDM leader McHenry Venaani said he would be open to the idea of a PDM member being appointed as a minister or deputy minister.
"We have not been approached by anyone, so it remains hypothetical. However, our movement is a mature party that is open to engaging with anyone if it serves the needs of Namibians," Venaani said.
A strategic move?
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah noted that Swapo’s strategy of co-opting an opposition MP could strengthen its parliamentary control, especially in a closely contested legislature.
“It would give them more control over passing legislation. However, this move is more about weakening the opposition than fostering genuine collaboration. It reduces the opposition’s influence and can create divisions within their ranks. True collaboration would mean engaging opposition parties on policy matters rather than absorbing individuals into government positions,” Kamwanyah told Namibian Sun.
Political analyst Rui Tyitende echoed this view, arguing that historically, such appointments have served the ruling party’s interests rather than the public’s.
“By accepting the position, Muinjangue was strategically neutralised by the governing party. She was inhibited from freely criticising the government of which she was a part,” Tyitende said.
He added: “In fact, she became more of a Swapo member than the president of Nudo, leading to the divisions that now plague her party. In short, knowingly or unknowingly, she was used to advance Swapo’s interests, hook, line, and sinker.”
When asked for comment, Swapo Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa remained tight-lipped.
“Just wait for the elected president to be sworn in. I am not the appointing authority,” she said.
[email protected]
POWER PLAY: Will Swapo strategically appoint a deputy minister from the opposition to strengthen its legislative dominance?
Photo: Contributed
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