U-turn on pre-congress meeting

A controversial town-hall meeting planned for 23 November – two days before the Swapo elective congress – has been called off after a flurry of complaints that it was being strategically convened in order to influence the congress outcome.In a letter to all regional governors last week, minister in the presidency Christine //Hoebes said the meeting was being called so that President Hage Geingob, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and ministers “could provide status updates on implementation of government programmes, economic performance and outlook”.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is one of the three candidates vying for the position of Swapo vice-president, the winner of which could become Namibia’s next president. She is up against ministers Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Pohamba Shifeta.It was not revealed whether all ministers were going to speak at the meeting – although the prime minister, as head of government business, was likely guaranteed to address the audience.Geingob has on numerous occasions poured cold water over assertions he was silently backing Kuugongelwa-Amadhila for Swapo vice-president and as his potential state successor.He veered off the ‘tradition’ that has seen a Swapo president backing his party deputy ahead of congress – much to the chagrin of Nandi-Ndaitwah supporters. Geingob said he did not endorse her, or anyone else, in order to create a level playing field for all contestants.So suddenIn her invitation letter to the governors, //Hoebes wrote: “You are requested to select 50 people from the region to accompany you”. The names of those selected were to be sent to the presidency, she said.Some congress campaigners have questioned the ‘suddenness’ of the town-hall meeting, saying it was a ploy to influence congress delegates – many of whom are likely to be in Windhoek by the time the event was set to be held.//Hoebes yesterday denied that there were political motives behind organising the meeting, but admitted it was cancelled because of such perceptions.“No town-hall meetings took place for two years and we felt it was important to kick-start them again. We saw the complaints on social media and we also received some advice that perhaps the timing was not right,” she told Namibian Sun yesterday.“In the end, this meeting was postponed to next year, due to a combination of factors - chief of which was those perceptions that it was being organised to influence congress. That was not the aim at all. It was well-meant,” the minister added.All eyes on congressThe landmark congress kicks off on 25 November in the capital, with eyes glued to the vice-president position. The winner of that seat will become the party’s official presidential candidate in the 2024 general election, and will take over the country’s reigns in 2025 if they successfully fend off the opposition.If a Swapo candidate wins the 2024 election, they will make history by becoming the first person who was not in exile during Namibia’s liberation struggle to take over as head of state - in the case of Shifeta – or as the first woman president, if either Kuugongelwa-Amadhila or Nandi-Ndaitwah emerge victorious.Another big battle is for the position of secretary-general, which pits incumbent Sophia Shaningwa against Oshikoto regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu. If she succeeds, Shaningwa will be the first incumbent to be re-elected to that position.

U-turn on pre-congress meeting

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-29

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U-turn on pre-congress meeting

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-29

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