By Kuvee Kangueehi
Windhoek
Swapo Party old guards retained their positions in the Central Committee with 10 new faces coming in at the just-ended Swapo Party 4th Congress.
Senior party leaders such as Jerry Ekandjo, Theo-Ben Gurirab, Ben Amathila, Nahas Angula, Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, Marco Hausiku and Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo scored high votes to comfortably retain their seats.
Interestingly, the new Central Committee has seven regional governors, five of them new. The Ohangwena Governor, Usko Nghaamwa, Oshikoto Governor, Penda ya Ndakolo, Omusati Governor, Sackey Kayone, Erongo Governor, Samuel Nuuyoma and Khomas Governor, Sophia Shaningwa, are all new members of the Central Committee.
Other governors such as Clemens Kashuupulwa and Omaheke Governor Laura McLeod retained their positions, while Hardap Governor, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, failed to make it.
Other new faces in the Central Committee are the Deputy Minister of Regional and Local Government, Kazenambo Kazenambo, former Swapo Party Youth League leader, John Nangombe Walenga, union leaders, Alpheus Muheua and Eliphas Dingara.
The Central Committee election had casualties that included former Attorney General, Helmut Ruppel, Namibia’s High Commissioner to Botswana, Hadino Hishongwa, former NUNW President Risto Kapenda, Ponhele ya Frans, John Shaetonhodi, former Defence Minister Philemon Malima, Nico Bessinger and Simon Mzee Kaukungwa.
Swapo Party President, Hifikepunye Pohamba, nominated six additional members to the Central Committee as provided for in the party constitution.
Pohamba re-nominated Deputy Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Angelika Muharukua, who was nominated for the first time by former President Sam Nujoma at the last congress.
The other presidential nominees are Defence Minister Charles Namoloh, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Willem Konjore, Hilka Leevi and Swapo Party backbenchers Royal J.K /Ui/o/oo and Ida Hoffmann. Former Minister of Transport, Moses Amweelo, who was nominated by the president last time, was voted straight into the Central Committee this time.
The new Central Committee also held its first meeting on Saturday morning to elect the new Politburo. The meeting, which was scheduled for Friday evening, was postponed to Saturday morning to allow the new Central Committee time to deliberate on the election of the new Politburo.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, former Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange and Director General of National Planning, Helmut Angula, did not make it into the Politburo.
Sources close to State House claimed that Pohamba was upset by Angula and Ndaitwah’s exclusion from the Politburo. Ruppel and Doreen Sioka, who were asked to fill vacancies in the Politburo a few months ago, were not elected to the Politburo. The Politburo is the steering committee of the Central Committee.
Surprise inclusions in the Politburo are Uutoni Nujoma, Petrus Iilonga and Asser Kapere. Scoring the second highest votes after Ekandjo to the Central Committee, Uutoni Nujoma remains the biggest surprise.
The Politburo is expected to meet soon to allocate different portfolios to the new Politburo members.
See the full Politburo and Central Committee list in tomorrow’s edition.