The National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) took a collective decision to do away with the party’s tradition of holding elective
congresses during a national election year. This was done at its recent national council meeting held in the capital, and is because intra-party congresses are disruptive, divisive in their nature and create unwanted internal fights, the national council (NC) – Nudo’s highest decision-making organ between congresses - resolved. 

Although the party is set to hold
its 2024 elective congress in April ahead of the country’s national elections set for this November, Nudo’s president Utjiua Muinjangue said this year’s elective congress will be the last of its kind as they will do things differently, going forward.  

To effect the necessary changes around new elective congress dates, the party will make constitutional amendments to ensure that their new plans are in conformity with the party’s ambitions, and the country’s elections cycle.

“The decision is not just about us looking back at our past experiences, but recent events within the local political space have also shown that holding an elective congress within an election year is disruptive and causes unnecessary infights among party members. A recent example that perfectly justifies our decision to do away with elective congresses within election years is what we all saw with the United Democratic Front (UDF), where things did not go smoothly. 

And it’s not just a Nudo or UDF experience, it [holding an elective congress in an election year] has proven to be a huge problem for almost all parties,” she noted. 

Muinjangue, who was elected Nudo’s president in 2019 to become the first- ever woman to lead a political party in Namibia, emphasised that stability and unity will be key for her party in heading to the polls for this year’s crucial elections, which will see Namibians voting for a new president as the end to President Hage Geingob’s second and final constitutionally- mandated term draws near. “Party unity and stability is always key in any election year, and that is exactly what we are aiming for. 

We want to strengthen all our bases countrywide and solidify unity within all
our party structures, as this year’s elections will be defining for the party and the whole country at large,” she continued.

The Kandorozu factor 

The party’s NC meeting likewise resolved to reinstate expelled former Okakarara constituency councillor Vetaruhe Kandorozu, Veneruru Korumbo, Uerinjona
Katjimune and Mbamunovandu Tuamunika as ordinary party members. 

It was decided that the four reinstated members will not retain their previous positions, but will return as ordinary cadres. 

Another party member, Ambros Mundjindjiri, who was also suspended, was reinstated, and will return to serve on the party’s national council. 

Kandorozu, who contested for the party’s leadership against Muinjangue during the party’s elective congress in 2019 and lost by a small margin, treaded a troubled political path after that congress as he was accused of orchestrating an anti-Muinjangue campaign during the 2020 Presidential and National Assembly elections. At the time, he was accused of having urged his supporters to vote for former independent candidate Panduleni Itula, who currently serves as president of the Independent Patriots for Change. Reacting to his reinstatement, Kandorozu yesterday told New Era that he was okay. “I really have no hard feelings
whatsoever about the party’s decision. I have wholeheartedly accepted my reinstatement as an ordinary party member, and my focus right now is to help my party grow and foster unity amongst fellow party members. I want
to assure all that I have accepted my reinstatement with an open heart,” he added. 

-ohembapu@nepc.com.na