KEETMANSHOOP – Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa says there will be no extraordinary congress, confirming that party vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is their sole and authentic presidential candidate for the 2024 election.
Nandi-Ndaitwah secured her position during the seventh congress held in November last year.
Namibians are set to return to the polls next year for the Presidential and National Assembly (NA) elections.
Speaking at a Swapo rally in Keetmanshoop over the weekend, Shaningwa urged party members to mobilise and prepare for the 2024 presidential and NA elections, emphasising that Nandi-Ndaitwah is the sole Swapo party presidential candidate.
“Let us go out and vote for Namibia’s first female president.
We have a responsibility to ensure that she receives our support. I will not hesitate to endorse her as the candidate for the Swapo party, and there will be no alternative candidate and no extraordinary-congress,” Shaningwa said.
Shaningwa noted Nandi-Ndaitwah’s qualifications in both domestic and international matters, while also showering her with praises, describing her as a compassionate leader who listens not only with her ears, but with her heart as well.
She urged party members to rally behind Nandi-Ndaitwah as they had done for the first, second, and third presidents of the party and the country.
Matheus Mumbala, Swapo’s regional coordinator for the //Kharas region, echoed the sentiment of party unity and support for Nandi-Ndaitwah as the 2024 presidential candidate.
“We are hearing people talking about extra-ordinary congress. That will not happen. It happened once in 2004 but it will not repeat itself, our rules and procedures are clear. We will have an electoral college to elect candidates for members of parliament but as far as presidential candidate goes, congress has pronounced itself, even if you were in support [of Nandi-Ndaitwah] or not,” the outspoken Mumbala said. On her part Nandi-Ndaitwah, or NNN as she is known in the Swapo circles, said the party’s aim should be to reclaim its glory day.
The most powerful political weapon available to reclaim the lost ground is uniting the masses towards a shared socio-economic prosperity.
“I urge you to work harder to ensure that come 2024, Swapo party and its presidential candidate are given unreserved support in order to ensure a landslide victory,” she said.
-Nampa