WINDHOEK – Anyone who wishes to succeed the retired Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) president Hidipo Hamutenya should, among others, be a unifier, a good communicator, fearless and have the skills to generate revenue for the party, according to the minority party’s secretariat.
The former official opposition party on Sunday made public 14 requirements Hamutenya’s potential successor should have, also announcing that two of its former representatives in the National Assembly – Kandy Nehova and Jeremiah Nambinga – were last weekend endorsed as two of those wishing to replace HH.
Nehova’s mobile phone was off when he was contacted for comment while Nambinga said he was in a meeting and could therefore not give any comment.
Nehova is the party’s secretary for housing and human settlement while Nambinga is RDP’s secretary for information, communication technology and publicity.
Both were part of Hamutenya’s group of followers who decided to jump the Swapo ship to start the RDP.
The two were nominated last weekend at an extraordinary national executive meeting that was held in Windhoek.
RDP acting president Steve Bezuidenhoudt said those who wish to join the race to succeed Hamutenya have until May 24 to avail themselves.
With the party failing to source funds to sustain its political operations in recent years, the ideal person must be well known and possess the necessary communication skills to solicit money from potential funders.
RDP has lately been embroiled in nasty internal fights pertaining to succession – a situation brought about by its dismal showing in last year’s national polls.
In that regard, the party says: “The ideal candidate must be a unifier and not a rumour-monger, tribalist, racist or biased.”
Hamutenya’s successor would be elected at an RDP extraordinary congress.
Last month, Hamutenya announced his retirement, bringing to an end his political career spanning over 50 years.
But just a few days after announcing his retirement, Hamutenya rescinded his decision claiming he was forced to go into retirement and did not do so voluntarily as alleged by the party leadership.
Before the swearing-in of lawmakers, who are serving in the sixth parliament, Hamutenya even wrote to the National Assembly to inform its secretariat that he will be sworn in to represent the RDP because he is still the president of the party, the party however countered that by refusing him entry and subsequently going ahead with its initial plans to send Steve Bezuidenhoudt, Mike Kavekotora and Agnes Limbo to the national legislature to represent the party.
HH was part of the country’s first Cabinet in 1990 and has since served as Minister of Information and Broadcasting (1990-1993), Minister of Trade and Industry (1993-2002) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2002-2004).
Of late, he was under severe pressure from several leaders to step down following the party’s dismal showing in the national polls last year where the party lost its official opposition status.