'Swapo is in ICU'

Swapo is a party in the intensive care unit due to weak leadership, aspiring deputy secretary-general Petrina Haingura remarked during a rally at Oshakati on Saturday. The former deputy health minister said the current top leadership of the party has violated the constitution, while she also rejected the sole candidacy claim. “Our Swapo Party is currently in ICU and we must work hard to revive it, restore it and revitalise it from the hands of (acting president Hage) Geingob and his team,” she said. “We have a clear understanding of what Hage [Geingob] is trying to achieve with his so-called endorsements. “He wants to surprise congress with an endorsement proposal of a sole candidacy on the floor using the endorsement he has received so far and thereby, impose himself to power without contesting the elections. “This plan is a dream and Team Swapo and all the members of our party will not allow it,” she said. The seven candidates contesting for Swapo's top four positions under the banner of 'Team Swapo' claim that the current party leadership is ill-equipped. Presidency candidate Nahas Angula said he volunteered to contest for the top seat in order to stop the current leadership from destroying the party and the national economy. “We cannot allow the party to be misled by those who call the masses 'aafyona', literally saying the party belongs to the elite. We can all see that our economy is shrinking and the government is borrowing like there is no tomorrow. “We must stand up and save our country,” Angula said. Another presidential candidate and youth minister Jerry Ekandjo said Swapo is the only centre of power. “All the people in positions are elected through Swapo. One cannot claim that there are two centres of power because even if you are president of the country once your first term comes to an end, you will come back to the party to give you another term,” Ekandjo said.“The roots of Swapo have dried out and I am here and ready to water them so they bear the desired fruits.” Ekandjo's running mate for the vice-presidency Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana also appealed to the 700-odd delegates to the Swapo congress to vote for candidates campaigning under the Team Swapo banner. Iivula-Ithana said she is a doer and people must believe in their team. She added Team Swapo candidates were duly nominated by the central committee of the ruling party in line with the party's constitution. However, she accused Geingob of playing the tribal card. “Nominations were open to each qualifying member of the party and were not restricted to people from a particular ethnic group. In fact, Geingob chaired the central committee meeting and invited nominations. “Then it means the Swapo central committee is tribalist,” she said. She said Geingob is spreading propaganda and is on the mission to causing disunity. Another vice-presidency candidate Helmut Angula accused Geingob campaigners of promising to delegates. He added Team Swapo genuinely represents the party, while claiming that the Geingob campaign was centred on an individual. “They are going around promising delegates N$1 000 per vote for their candidate. Let us defeat them at the congress,” Angula said. Secretary-general candidate Armas Amukwiyu said he is there to represent the youth, adding the party needed to be steered in the right direction. “If elected as the secretary-general I will make the vow here and now that the office of the secretary-general will never again be used to violate the Swapo constitution. “That office will never be used as a tool to fight people, it will be an office for addressing issues,” he said. Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun said she will capitalise on her business acumen to help deliver prosperity to the Namibian people. “My experience as a businesswoman, comrade, a cadre of change and promoter of prosperity for all will allow me to deliver the desired objectives,” said Namundjebo-Tilahun, who is also contesting for the deputy secretary-general position. Saturday's rally was also attended by over 100 delegates from the Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshana regions. ILENI NANDJATO

'Swapo is in ICU'

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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'Swapo is in ICU'

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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