ONGWEDIVA – Former State and Swapo President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who over the weekend relinquished his Swapo Party presidency, said he was not pushed out of the position, as the ruling party president.
The presidency of the party goes to Hage Geingob, who was until now the Swapo vice president.
“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 the 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.
Pohamba announced his retirement during the Swapo central committee meeting on Saturday and informed the public yesterday at Swapo’s 55th anniversary at Oshakati.
He said that his decision was a conscious move motivated by his age and his will to 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.
Pohamba handed over symbols of power to Geingob, who later referred to himself at the president of Swapo.
“I became the third president of Namibia on the 21 March [2015] and today I have become the third president of Swapo. As I pledged on 21 March at the Independence Stadium that I will be the president for all Namibians, today I am also pledging that I will be the president of all Swapo, whether you like me, or you dislike me,” said Geingob.
New Era, however, understands that the Swapo central committee members on Saturday were not impressed by Pohamba’s decision to step down, with some accusing him of providing unclear reasons for his resignation.
Former cabinet ministers Marco Hausiku and Isak Katali were particularly most vocal on the issue.
The duo, New Era understands, did not hold back during Saturday’s heated CC meeting in Ongwediva when they questioned Pohamba’s decision while subsequently requesting him to clearly explain whether he was stepping down or delegating power.
Katali wanted Pohamba to distinguish between handing over of power and delegation of power, which he says were used interchangeably by Pohamba as he announced his retirement.
Hausiku reminded Pohamba that during last week’s politburo meeting he had said he is stepping down, but at the CC he talked of delegating all authority to Geingob. Hausiku wanted Pohamba to make it clear whether he is retiring or simply delegating power.
Hausiku also apparently questioned the timing and manner in which Pohamba is leaving the scene. “By questioning these things, it does not mean one is against our vice president or that we do not want him to takeover, he is equally capable and that is why we elected him. We just want things to be clear,” Hausiku told the central committee.
Nevertheless, Pohamba remained steadfast on his decision to retire from active politics during Saturday’s three-hour special CC meeting.
“When Pohamba finished talking we clapped hands and he asked us if by clapping hands we agree with him leaving, almost everyone responded with a yes answer. He told us that he is going and therefore handing power to Geingob, but he said he will still be available to serve and assist the party where needed,” said a member of the Swapo central committee.
According to the sources, Pohamba told the 84-member central committee meeting that “by handing over power he believes it will facilitate more effective decision-making processes on matters of both the party and the country. I made this decision out of my own free will, I was never forced or influenced by anyone.”
Pohamba joined the party in 1960 and served in several leadership positions such as that of secretary of finance, secretary general, vice president and president.
Should the party hold an extraordinary congress, Geingob would automatically takeover as Pohamba’s successor.
Although talks are rife that Pohamba’s decision to step down was necessary for him to claim the Mo Ibrahim prize money, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation quashed such talks last week.
The foundation’s head of communications Sophie Masipa told New Era last week that the award is only focused on state leadership instead of party politics.