Windhoek
The ruling Swapo Party has chosen to remain silent on plans regarding the election of a party vice-president to replace incumbent Dr Hage Geingob who last month took over as Swapo president as well.
With party secretary general Nangolo Mbumba having dashed any hopes of Swapo convening an extraordinary congress, it is unclear whether the party will follow its 50/50 gender policy to elect a new VP at its 2017 congress.
“You must be out of your mind to talk about 2017 right now. The preparation for 2017 cannot start today or over the phone,” said Mbumba yesterday.
With Geingob all but set to permanently succeed Pohamba at the next congress, the race for VP is key because the winning candidate will be the most likely successor as party president when Geingob steps down.
The party is compelled by its own constitution to conduct internal elections according to its gender representation policy, meaning the VP should be female.
The VP becomes the party’s candidate for national presidential elections in an event that the party president cannot stand.
The party adopted, as a constitutional provision, a 50/50 gender representation formula at an extraordinary congress held in 2013 in Swakopmund.
This would effectively mean that if Geingob is to remain party president, no male candidate would be allowed to run for the VP position.
Geingob took over when former party president Hifikepunye Pohamba decided to retire.
While handing over power to Geingob last month, Pohamba said: “The president of Swapo should have the full authority to manage the affairs of the country and the affairs of Swapo. Some are saying that Pohamba has resigned himself from the position, I have not resigned; I have simply handed over full power to Hage Geingob. Don’t go and say there are problems in Swapo. I did not resign because I had an argument [with Geingob] – and we will never quarrel.”
He said his decision was a conscious move motivated by his age, adding he would give full power to the reigning head of state.
“As from today Comrade Hage Geingob will act as the president of Swapo until further arrangements are made,” said Pohamba.
Although Pohamba said Geingob was heading the party in an acting capacity until further arrangements were made, Geingob is referred to by many as the party’s de facto third president.