Drama in Oshana after Nandi-Ndaitwah no-show

Swapo factions in the Oshana Region had to smoke a peace pipe at the eleventh hour after regional coordinator Samuel Nelongo canceled all planned party birthday festivities at which Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was scheduled to be the key speaker.Nandi-Ndaitwah, Swapo&#039;s vice-president and one of the prospective challengers for the country&#039;s presidency through the watershed party congress slated for later this year, cancelled her attendance to the event, leading to attempts to abort activities altogether.However, another group refused to have its plans changed and allegedly went ahead and invited the party’s secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa to headline the activities.At a gathering over the weekend, Shaningwa told party supporters that another wave of factionalism will spell the end of the former liberation movement.She was addressing party members who gathered at Okandjengedi on Sunday afternoon. Former Ohangwena governor Usko Nghaamwa was also in attendance.The gathering was part of a series of commemorative events preceding the party&#039;s 62nd anniversary on 19 April.No bad bloodAt the event, Shaningwa said there were rumours that no party events would take place at regional level over the weekend due to infighting between Nelongo and a group of the party&#039;s foot soldiers. This comes after Nandi-Ndaitwah was set to address a rally at Ongwediva on Saturday, while Swapo foot soldiers invited Shaningwa to participate in a drive-through event on Sunday.Shaningwa said the disagreements were ironed out, adding that in Swapo they quarrel, but detractors must know they can settle their differences.She then called Nelongo to the podium for all to see, where the two sang a song to prove that there is “no bad blood” between them.“We decided that we are going to hold hands and participate in this mobilisation together. When we came out from that office, we decided to bury all the differences and move forward for the survival of our party. No quarrels between me and Nelongo. We know what needs to be done and when. We have the knowledge to heal the souls of our soldiers,” she said.‘Swapo will remain’Shaningwa further told the party’s regional leadership that they can no longer afford to accommodate divisions as this has cost the party in the past.“We must be careful and jealously protect and guard this party. Swapo will remain. Individuals will go. Personal issues must be settled. Do not use the party as a boxing ring,” she said, adding “no more infighting. Peace be with you, Oshana Region”.She said President Hage Geingob has often told the people to play the ball and not the man.“You should all be cautioned, if you destroy the party from within it will cause extinction. Protect the party for now and future generations.“If we are not united, definitely we will fall. If they throw stones at you, do not throw back. Instead collect the stones and build an empire for yourself. No matter what they say, Swapo will collect stones and build an empire.“Don’t allow enemies to infiltrate the party. They will destroy us. Treat the party like an egg because it can easily crack,” she stressed.Defenders, not pretendersShaningwa also used the platform to urge Swapo sympathisers to join the party. She also applauded Nelongo for getting them new members.“Those who want to genuinely join the Swapo Party, they may do so. Only through new members can the party survive to a decade. We need defenders in Swapo, not pretenders,” she said.Nelongo and the party&#039;s foot soldiers have not seen eye to eye since the party&#039;s 2017 congress when he supported ‘Team Swapo’ while most of the foot soldiers supported ‘Team Harambee’. This escalated in 2020 when they locked his office and demanded his removal, to no avail.- tuyeimo@namibiansun.com

Drama in Oshana after Nandi-Ndaitwah no-show

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-27

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Drama in Oshana after Nandi-Ndaitwah no-show

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-27

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