With Namibia’s National and Presidential Elections less than three months away, chaos, characterised by factionalism, reigns in Namibian politics.

It would seem Namibian political operators are passionate about and committed to division.

As the African saying goes, “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”

The saying is true for several political parties who are currently at war with themselves ahead of the crucial elections.

At the time of writing, Swanu, Namibia’s oldest political party, was being led by two leaders or factions.

One faction is led by unionist-turned politician Evilastus Kaaronda, while another is led by Charles Katjivirue.

This situation is not different from other smaller parties.

At the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo), two factions exist.

While some parties are fine-tuning manifestos and knocking on doors to canvas support, a Nudo breakaway faction has already installed former football administrator Barry Rukoro as the party’s new president during a hastily organised congress, attended by around 300 delegates.

The party now has two leaders, each claiming to be the legitimate one.

Rukoro, the former secretary general of the Namibian Football Association, was elected unopposed, and none of the other contesting candidates for the party’s presidency showed up at the congress.

During the gathering, Rukoro defended the legitimacy of the elective congress that was organised by Nudo’s self-proclaimed interim committee under Tjizapouzeu Uahupirapi, saying the traditional chiefs that attended the gathering and the over 300 delegates have taken a decision, and it must be respected.

In July, despite splashing close to N$1 million, of which N$300 000 was reportedly borrowed to fill the budget deficit, Nudo failed to pull off an elective congress.

That failure now has a huge financial and credibility cost and further shattered the party’s unity.

That failure too, for some members, has left a leadership vacuum.

However, the party’s Utjiua Muinjangue-led leadership has rejected the congress as illegitimate.

The Muinjangue camp has since taken the legal route.

In court papers, the last democratically elected Nudo leadership is challenging whatever transpired over the weekend.

From here, we move to the Rally for Democracy and Progress.

Over the weekend, again, party leader Mike Kavekotora was re-elected as president. However, former parliamentarian Kandy Nehova is in court, challenging Kavekotora’s legitimacy. 

It is a perfect storm for political parties who ought to be singing from the same hymnbook and rallying behind one leader ahead of the elections.

As said earlier, it is not these leaders or warring factions that will be hurt the most by the outcome of their squabbles, but the organisations they lead or claim to represent that will suffer the most. It is a perfect political storm.

Youth stepping up

Meanwhile, as the Swapo electoral college concluded, the ‘pot’, which had been cooking for over 72 hours, had delivered a mixed bag.

But one thing was clear: The old guard had been pushed to the periphery as young, ordinary Swapo members decided it was their time.

Over the years, the pot has always been dominated by party stalwarts and seasoned politicians, particularly Cabinet ministers, and members of Parliament.

This time, however, it was not to be.

This is because the list is dominated by Swapo foot soldiers from the regions, most of whom have never served in public office.

Leading the pack with the most votes was Helaria Mukapuli, who garnered 197 votes.

In the initial top 20 women’s list, only two female Cabinet ministers, Emma Theofelus and Lucia Iipumbu, made the cut.

Another interesting pot delivery among the top 70 prospective parliamentarians – only former agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb has reached the age of 70.

At 70, he is the oldest.

Also, when the Popular Democratic Movement elected its central committee recently, none of the leaders were over 60.

Again, this was another indication that young people had finally arrived at the decision-making table.

It is no longer a question of if, but instead a question of how.

More so, what stood out at the Swapo pot, however, was the nomination of 22-year-old Fenny Tutjavi among Swapo’s foremost leader, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s list of 10.

Political novices, analysts, pedestrians, and armchair critics whose job it is only to criticise without offering any alternative took this appointment as a bitter pill to swallow.

Some castigated the appointment, saying Tutjavi has no experience, pedigree or calibre, worthy of the nomination. This flies in the face of youth empowerment.

While it remains to be seen whether the new Swapo cohort will increase the party’s numbers at the polls and if they would deliver in Parliament. It is clear that those more interested in infighting and power struggles might lose focus and supporters.