The All People’s Party (APP) national bureau deliberated and confirmed as per article 5 of the party constitution that Maria Kamutali, who is number three on the party list, will replace late president Ignatius Shixwameni in parliament.
However, Nangolo Shuumbwa will act as the party president, subject to endorsement by the central coordinating committee (CCC).
This comes after Shixwameni (55) died last November after he collapsed at parliament, where he was attending a committee meeting on foreign affairs alongside other parliamentarians.
The decision to replace Shixwameni was made as per the APP constitution’s article 5, which deals with another member to “act on behalf of the president when the last cannot perform his or her duties due to unforeseen circumstances or absence from the country”.
The national bureau, the party’s second-highest decision-making organ, held a meeting on 11 December 2021 in Okahandja.
It was at this urgent meeting where it was decided that Shuumbwa should take over as acting APP president, while Kamutali will replace him in the National Assembly.
The decision was effective immediately.
The national bureau deliberated and confirmed a candidate subjecting the party to the Gazetted Parliament list.
“Preparations regarding this matter will be done in due course through the office of the Speaker. Against the backdrop of the recent passing on of our party president, the All People’s Party’s national bureau held this emergency consultative meeting to discuss the way forward in order to give assurances to our party members, supporters, sympathisers and the nation at large about the leadership’s commitment and resolve to work as a collective for the interest and benefit of the party,” APP secretary general Vincent Kanyetu stated.
The national bureau also deliberated and endorsed - subject to CCC approval - the office of the secretary for international relations and presidential affairs in the presidency, to be headed by Agapitus Hausiku to assist the acting president in carrying out his duties.
Kanyetu said as a party, the APP received the news on how the situation unfolded at parliament leading to the death of Shixwameni with disbelief, shock and disappointment.
“As an institution mandated with legislative powers, the party is dismayed that there is no provision at parliament for emergency responses, and that a call for response would take more than 40 minutes, putting our lawmakers in danger. The leadership of the party is of the belief that the party president succumbed on the premises of parliament due to this negligent situation,” he lamented.
Kanyetu said this matter, if not addressed, puts others at risk. The party leadership is thus requesting the office of the Speaker to inform this nation as to how an institution of this magnitude can operate without basic first aid services.
The party leadership then expressed profound appreciation to President Hage Geingob for having accorded the honour of a state funeral to the late Shixwameni.
The APP national bureau furthermore calls for collective leadership and teamwork to ensure that the party is steered in the right direction.
“This will only be achieved through a dedicated team of cadres, committed to serving the party selflessly on every structure of the party. The mobilisation of structures in regions at constituency levels and the wings should be prioritised in preparation for the 2024 national congress and national elections,” Kanyetu added.