Swapo VP post frozen until 2027
Nandi-Ndaitwah endorsed for president position
The VP position is sought after as it would determine who Swapo fields as its presidential candidate when Nandi-Ndaitwah vacates State House.
The coveted Swapo vice-president position, which will be vacated by Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at next month's extraordinary congress and is key to identifying her future successor, will remain vacant until the 2027 ordinary elective congress, party sources confirmed.
The Swapo central committee, during a meeting on Saturday, endorsed Nandi-Ndaitwah as the sole contender to fill the vacant party president position, which became available following the death of party leader Hage Geingob in February 2024.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the party did not address the fate of the vice-president position once Nandi-Ndaitwah assumes the party presidency. The party’s media statement focused on the extraordinary congress slated for 7 to 9 March, where Nandi-Ndaitwah will officially take over the presidency.
“Nandi-Ndaitwah, in conformity with the tenor and spirit of Resolution 20 of the 7th Congress of the Swapo Party, shall be presented as the sole and unopposed candidate, to the extraordinary congress, for her election into the position of President, so as to complete the term left unexpired,” the statement reads.
However, Namibian Sun has reliably learned that the Swapo leadership has decided to keep the vice-presidency vacant until the party’s 2027 ordinary elective congress.
Sources indicate that this decision was made because Article 16 of the Swapo constitution, which outlines the vice-president’s role, does not specify how or when the position must be filled if it becomes vacant.
“The party took advantage of the fact that the constitution is silent on the timeframes for filling the vice-president’s position. We felt this is not the time to create unnecessary contests because, as you know, the vice-president position will largely determine who replaces Netumbo as head of state from a Swapo perspective,” a party official said.
The vice-president position is expected to be highly contested at the 2027 elective congress as party leaders position themselves for the state presidency when Nandi-Ndaitwah, who will be sworn in next month as Namibian president, vacates the role.
The Swapo constitution is clearer regarding the position of party president, stating that it must be filled within 90 days of becoming vacant. According to Article 15 (9) of the Swapo Constitution, when a presidential vacancy occurs, the central committee must elect a new president within three months to complete the unexpired term of the former president unless the vacancy occurs within six months of the ordinary congress.
This means that Nandi-Ndaitwah will assume the presidency and complete Geingob’s unexpired term, which was set to end in 2027.
When asked about the vice-presidency, Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa declined to comment, instructing Namibian Sun to direct any inquiries from party members to her directly.
“I’m a person who doesn’t discuss the internal matters of Swapo with any newspaper. Any person asking you that question, let them call me,” Shaningwa said.
Some Swapo members argue that leaving the vice-president position vacant weakens the party, as there would be no designated successor should Nandi-Ndaitwah be unable to complete Geingob’s unexpired term.
However, Article 15 (10) of the Swapo Constitution states that if both the president and vice-president are unable to fulfill their duties permanently, the Politburo will elect an acting president from its members, subject to central committee endorsement, until a new president is elected at either an extraordinary or ordinary congress, whichever is applicable. - [email protected]
The Swapo central committee, during a meeting on Saturday, endorsed Nandi-Ndaitwah as the sole contender to fill the vacant party president position, which became available following the death of party leader Hage Geingob in February 2024.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the party did not address the fate of the vice-president position once Nandi-Ndaitwah assumes the party presidency. The party’s media statement focused on the extraordinary congress slated for 7 to 9 March, where Nandi-Ndaitwah will officially take over the presidency.
“Nandi-Ndaitwah, in conformity with the tenor and spirit of Resolution 20 of the 7th Congress of the Swapo Party, shall be presented as the sole and unopposed candidate, to the extraordinary congress, for her election into the position of President, so as to complete the term left unexpired,” the statement reads.
However, Namibian Sun has reliably learned that the Swapo leadership has decided to keep the vice-presidency vacant until the party’s 2027 ordinary elective congress.
Sources indicate that this decision was made because Article 16 of the Swapo constitution, which outlines the vice-president’s role, does not specify how or when the position must be filled if it becomes vacant.
“The party took advantage of the fact that the constitution is silent on the timeframes for filling the vice-president’s position. We felt this is not the time to create unnecessary contests because, as you know, the vice-president position will largely determine who replaces Netumbo as head of state from a Swapo perspective,” a party official said.
The vice-president position is expected to be highly contested at the 2027 elective congress as party leaders position themselves for the state presidency when Nandi-Ndaitwah, who will be sworn in next month as Namibian president, vacates the role.
The Swapo constitution is clearer regarding the position of party president, stating that it must be filled within 90 days of becoming vacant. According to Article 15 (9) of the Swapo Constitution, when a presidential vacancy occurs, the central committee must elect a new president within three months to complete the unexpired term of the former president unless the vacancy occurs within six months of the ordinary congress.
This means that Nandi-Ndaitwah will assume the presidency and complete Geingob’s unexpired term, which was set to end in 2027.
When asked about the vice-presidency, Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa declined to comment, instructing Namibian Sun to direct any inquiries from party members to her directly.
“I’m a person who doesn’t discuss the internal matters of Swapo with any newspaper. Any person asking you that question, let them call me,” Shaningwa said.
Some Swapo members argue that leaving the vice-president position vacant weakens the party, as there would be no designated successor should Nandi-Ndaitwah be unable to complete Geingob’s unexpired term.
However, Article 15 (10) of the Swapo Constitution states that if both the president and vice-president are unable to fulfill their duties permanently, the Politburo will elect an acting president from its members, subject to central committee endorsement, until a new president is elected at either an extraordinary or ordinary congress, whichever is applicable. - [email protected]
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