Swapo Party veteran Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana expressed regret over an unresolved rift with her mentor, the late president Hage Geingob. Their once-strong bond fractured during the heated competition for the party’s top seat in 2017.
In that year’s Swapo congress, the ruling party was divided into Team Harambee and Team Swapo.
As a member of Team Swapo, Iivula-Ithana and Jerry Ekandjo teamed up with former prime minister Nahas Angula to take on Geingob’s slate.
In 2018, Iivula-Ithana and Ekandjo were sacked from Geingob’s Cabinet.
Iivula-Ithana shared her desire to mend fences with Geingob after his presidential term.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t get to reconcile. I had decided to see him after retirement because I didn’t want people to think I was looking for a job or something like that, and that was my personal decision,” she said.
The last time the two spoke was at the last Swapo congress in 2022. Reminiscing on that moment, Iivula-Ithana said they didn’t, however, have a personal encounter to resolve their issues, as it was in a group. However, they did manage to take a photo together.
Later on, Iivula-Ithana was informed by those close to Geingob that he attempted to reach out to her.
“I am told that he attempted, but those whom he wanted to convey the message through were also careful,” said Iivula-Ithana. According to her, those who were sent to convey the message advised Geingob to call her himself and put their issues in the past.
“So, unfortunately, we didn’t get to reconcile,” said the politician. However, Iivula-Ithana said spiritually, she has found finality in their relationship.
“Of course, we will meet on the other side,” she told this paper during Geingob’s memorial service last weekend.
“We had so many memories, some pleasant, others unpleasant. But I want to hold on to the pleasant ones,” she said. Iivula-Ithana added that Geingob was her mentor.
“He mentored me into Swapo, he mentored me into public administration, he mentored me into governance, so he is a part of my life. Therefore, I will cherish those memories,” she said before walking off into a crowd of mourners to celebrate the life of the late president.