By Kuvee Kangueehi
Windhoek
Swapo Party Secretary-General, Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, says preparations for the Swapo Party 2007 Congress are in full swing.
He says the party is strictly adhering to its constitution and would ensure that things are done procedurally during the build-up to the congress.
Speaking to New Era in an exclusive interview yesterday, Tjiriange said preparations in terms of logistics and party structures are on course and that positive feedback has been reported to the National Preparatory Committee which is chaired by the party president, Dr Sam Nujoma.
Tjiriange said various sub-committees to the congress have reported positive progress.
“Some of the sub-committees have gone very far and the printing of t-shirts and some of the congress material has already started.”
He said his office is also in contact with all the Swapo Party regional coordinators. All the regions, except Caprivi, Hardap and Omaheke, have completed their regional conferences. This means that they have elected their delegates to the congress.
Tjiriange, who is also the Minister of Veteran Affairs, said he is
not alarmed that the three regions have not completed their conferences and expects them to complete the process in the first week of October.
He noted that the delays have been caused by problems in the districts, which have since been solved.
Tjiriange said he has been assured that enough funds have been raised for the smooth running of the congress.
The Secretary-General also ruled out a scenario where the congress could suffer the same fate as that of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) earlier this year, which ended up in a walkout and now an ongoing court battle.
“The delegates for the Swapo congress are from the grassroots and are mandated by the structures of the party to represent them and are not opportunistic people who are there to serve their own interest.”
He added that the party’s election process is similar to that of the country where there is simply no room for rigging or manipulating the elections.
“The rules are watertight and the idea is that the person that loses must be happy that they lost fairly and democratically.”
He said the party wants to avoid ill feeling among the losers.
He further noted that his office received proposals for constitutional amendments but could not shed more light on the proposals.
He, however, noted that the proposed amendments would be forwarded to the Politburo and Central Committee for consideration before being tabled at the congress.
Tjiriange said he has not heard about the formation of a breakaway party from Swapo.
“I must confess, I do not know and it is the first time that I am hearing about it.”
He confessed that he is aware of the difficulties that the party faced, which led to the expulsion of Jesaya Nyamu but this was not tantamount to formation of a new party.
Speculation has been rife that there are plans to form a new party, which will be known as the Namibia People’s Organisation (Napo).
New Era has also learnt that a secret recruitment drive has started. It is said that last weekend, four people were seen trying to register members at Otjombinde in the Omaheke Region.
Sources claim that members of the new party are contemplating to either launch the party two weeks before the Swapo Party congress, thus disrupt the congress as some delegates would pull out, or attend the congress and then walk out.
The thinking is that if they walk out of the congress, the legitimacy of the congress would be questioned and this could degenerate into a legal battle as happened with the CoD.
Tjiriange ruled out such a scenario and said if some party members are planning to form a new party, they can go ahead because they would be replaced by new delegates.
“I am clear in my mind and I do not see anything threatening this congress.”
Tjiriange said he foresees tough battles for positions in the party but added that this is part of democracy.
The Swapo Party Congress takes place every five years and is the highest decision-making body of the party. The congress will this year take place in Windhoek at the end of November and more than 500 delegates are expected to attend.
Meanwhile, Swapo Party President Sam Nujoma is expected to address a public meeting in Otjombinde in the Omaheke Region over the weekend.