Disgruntled Swapo vice-presidential-hopeful Jerry Ekandjo yesterday agreed his matter of exclusion from challenging for the party’s vice presidency at the upcoming elective congress to be handled by the party’s central committee.

Ekandjo, who was eliminated from the contest, presented Swapo with a lawyer’s letter in which he demanded to be reinstated in the race. 

He took issue with his ouster, as two candidates who have never served in the central committee were allowed to contest, contrary to the controversial Helmuth amendments, which limit candidates who have not served in the structures.

However, Swapo, through their lawyer Lucius Murorua of Murorua Kurtz Kasper Inc, yesterday advised Ekandjo against taking the legal route but rather refer his complaints to the central committee for consideration. 

“Swapo denies any constitutional transgression whatsoever in relation to its elimination election for candidates for vice president, secretary general, deputy secretary general and maintains having conducted its election, strictly in accordance with the 5 September 2020 amended constitution,” Murorua said. 

“In fact, Ekandjo’s complaint is a consequence of the genuine interpretive oversight consequent upon disregard of the transitional provisions of the amended constitution, which, had they been taken into consideration, banishes the complaint raised.”

Responding to the advice, Ekandjo, through his lawyers Metcalfe Beukes Attorneys, said “in order to amicably resolve this matter, our client agrees that it be referred to central committee for consideration and decision with speed and clarity”.

“It is, without prejudice, proposed that the matter be remitted to the central committee for its consideration and decision on/before 12h00 on 3 October 2022,” reads the letter seen by New Era newspaper yesterday.     

The former minister, who unsuccessfully stood as a Swapo vice presidential candidate in elections in 2012 and 2017, failed to make it to the list of current vice presidential candidates at a meeting of the party’s central committee about a week ago. 

- ktjitemisa@nepc.com.na 

Caption:

Jerry Ekandjo

Photo: Nampa