Elevate Swapo VP, Hishongwa urges
Mathias Haufiku
WINDHOEK
Swapo veteran Hadino Hishongwa has warned party members that internal squabbles linked to the ongoing succession race will lead to loss of power for the party, and to its ultimate demise.As the fight for the soul of the ruling party continues en route to congress, the debate on whether Swapo’s unwritten rule of its vice-president being endorsed to ascend to the top should be upheld has exposed a bitter internal feud between comrades.
Hishongwa, speaking to Namibian Sun this week, said the party must not divert from its tradition of elevating the party’s vice-president to the party’s top seat.
He said if party president Hage Geingob throws his weight behind vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, it will help forge unity and stability within party ranks, while emboldening Swapo’s continuity agenda. Geingob has so far shied away from endorsing his party deputy, whom he endorsed at the last congress in 2017.
“In Swapo, the elevation of the vice-president is a culture that has worked over the years; hence I do not see why we should change it now. If we ignore our history and tradition to please newcomers, we will destroy our party,” Hishongwa said.
He narrated how the two former party presidents, Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba, pleaded with party ranks to support and elevate the vice-president at the time.
Pohamba was the vice-president during Nujoma’s last term while Geingob was vice-president during Pohamba’s second term. Both campaigned vehemently for their deputies and it worked out well as far as maintaining unity and continuity in the party is concerned, Hishongwa said.
‘Rich history’
The former Swapo parliamentarian’s stance comes days before the party’s politburo is set to sit to nominate its choice of candidates for the top four. This is scheduled for next Monday, followed by the central committee meeting five days later for further nominations and endorsements.
It is Hishongwa’s view that the formation of slates during the 2017 congress was the biggest contributing factor to Swapo’s dismal performance at the last national elections.
The 78-year-old added that he is perplexed as to why there is a crusade to divert from old party customs now that Nandi-Ndaitwah is second in line.
“She has a rich history in Swapo since her youth and she has no links to any dodgy activities or corruption like others, therefore I see no reason why she should not be given a chance.”
He added: “Geingob is leading in a very tough period and things have deteriorated in the party, but it is not his fault alone, we must all take blame. Those who want us to abandon our succession traditions are latecomers who want to distort things.”
Talks of a rift
Hishongwa, however, is confident that despite talks of a fallout between Geingob and Nandi-Ndaitwah, the party president will “do the right thing and support his deputy”.
After all, he said, Geingob chose Nandi-Ndaitwah to be his deputy in 2017 so he sees no reason why he would have an issue with her succeeding him.
Meanwhile, there are speculations that the upcoming Swapo Party congress later this year might be working its way into state affairs.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also the country’s international relations minister, has been omitted from the travelling delegation of most of Geingob’s official international trips this year, a situation which sparked talks of a rift between the two.
‘Supporting criminal acts’
Retired politician Hishongwa, like many other founding members, has remained reticent on his misgivings about the state of the party in recent years, but is now outspoken about his concern.
His indignation stems from his view that party values are being deliberately undermined and eroded to protect and advance the political agenda of individuals.
One such example, he said, is the party’s tolerant approach towards allowing party members who have criminal convictions to serve in party structures.
“Convicts were not allowed to serve on any structures, because it can be seen as Swapo supporting criminal acts. The leadership must convince those comrades to excuse themselves for the sake of the party.”
“We have allowed infiltration in our party by political unknowns who only want to be at the table to eat while those who truly sacrificed for the party are being ignored,” he lamented.
‘Unforgivable crimes’
Hishongwa added that the Swapo-led government “has committed unforgivable crimes”.
This is in reference to hundreds of fishermen who lost their jobs a few years ago at Walvis Bay.
“We made a mistake when it comes to the fishermen and we were duly punished. As a responsible party, we were supposed to go to those comrades and apologise.”
WINDHOEK
Swapo veteran Hadino Hishongwa has warned party members that internal squabbles linked to the ongoing succession race will lead to loss of power for the party, and to its ultimate demise.As the fight for the soul of the ruling party continues en route to congress, the debate on whether Swapo’s unwritten rule of its vice-president being endorsed to ascend to the top should be upheld has exposed a bitter internal feud between comrades.
Hishongwa, speaking to Namibian Sun this week, said the party must not divert from its tradition of elevating the party’s vice-president to the party’s top seat.
He said if party president Hage Geingob throws his weight behind vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, it will help forge unity and stability within party ranks, while emboldening Swapo’s continuity agenda. Geingob has so far shied away from endorsing his party deputy, whom he endorsed at the last congress in 2017.
“In Swapo, the elevation of the vice-president is a culture that has worked over the years; hence I do not see why we should change it now. If we ignore our history and tradition to please newcomers, we will destroy our party,” Hishongwa said.
He narrated how the two former party presidents, Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba, pleaded with party ranks to support and elevate the vice-president at the time.
Pohamba was the vice-president during Nujoma’s last term while Geingob was vice-president during Pohamba’s second term. Both campaigned vehemently for their deputies and it worked out well as far as maintaining unity and continuity in the party is concerned, Hishongwa said.
‘Rich history’
The former Swapo parliamentarian’s stance comes days before the party’s politburo is set to sit to nominate its choice of candidates for the top four. This is scheduled for next Monday, followed by the central committee meeting five days later for further nominations and endorsements.
It is Hishongwa’s view that the formation of slates during the 2017 congress was the biggest contributing factor to Swapo’s dismal performance at the last national elections.
The 78-year-old added that he is perplexed as to why there is a crusade to divert from old party customs now that Nandi-Ndaitwah is second in line.
“She has a rich history in Swapo since her youth and she has no links to any dodgy activities or corruption like others, therefore I see no reason why she should not be given a chance.”
He added: “Geingob is leading in a very tough period and things have deteriorated in the party, but it is not his fault alone, we must all take blame. Those who want us to abandon our succession traditions are latecomers who want to distort things.”
Talks of a rift
Hishongwa, however, is confident that despite talks of a fallout between Geingob and Nandi-Ndaitwah, the party president will “do the right thing and support his deputy”.
After all, he said, Geingob chose Nandi-Ndaitwah to be his deputy in 2017 so he sees no reason why he would have an issue with her succeeding him.
Meanwhile, there are speculations that the upcoming Swapo Party congress later this year might be working its way into state affairs.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also the country’s international relations minister, has been omitted from the travelling delegation of most of Geingob’s official international trips this year, a situation which sparked talks of a rift between the two.
‘Supporting criminal acts’
Retired politician Hishongwa, like many other founding members, has remained reticent on his misgivings about the state of the party in recent years, but is now outspoken about his concern.
His indignation stems from his view that party values are being deliberately undermined and eroded to protect and advance the political agenda of individuals.
One such example, he said, is the party’s tolerant approach towards allowing party members who have criminal convictions to serve in party structures.
“Convicts were not allowed to serve on any structures, because it can be seen as Swapo supporting criminal acts. The leadership must convince those comrades to excuse themselves for the sake of the party.”
“We have allowed infiltration in our party by political unknowns who only want to be at the table to eat while those who truly sacrificed for the party are being ignored,” he lamented.
‘Unforgivable crimes’
Hishongwa added that the Swapo-led government “has committed unforgivable crimes”.
This is in reference to hundreds of fishermen who lost their jobs a few years ago at Walvis Bay.
“We made a mistake when it comes to the fishermen and we were duly punished. As a responsible party, we were supposed to go to those comrades and apologise.”
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