Lahja Nashuuta
Swapo’s extraordinary congress is scheduled to take place this weekend to elect the president of the party.
Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga in an interview told New Era confirmed that the extraordinary congress will be held at the Country Club in Windhoek, with 700 delegates expected to attend.
He confirmed that there is only one item on the agenda, which is to elect the president of the party, who will be steering the party for next five years.
“The reason for the extraordinary congress is to elect a president of the party because, since the passing on of our dear president, we don’t have a president of the Swapo party.
“We must fill in that vacancy. As per the rules and procedures in our Swapo party constitution, that person must be elected either by the congress, ordinary congress or extraordinary congress.
In this situation, because we are between two ordinary congresses, the previous one and the current one, so this one will be an extraordinary congress”.
This position is currently held by president-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is set to be endorsed as Swapo president at the extraordinary congress.
All the party structures have thrown their support behind her.
The Swapo Women’s Council and party politburo last month, through a recommendation, proposed to endorse Nandi-Ndaitwah for president. Both structures advocate that no contest would be allowed and that Nandi-Ndaitwah would occupy both the party vice president and president positions.
“Everything is arranged. Let them be ready and let us come together in the spirit of total unity. We need to get united. We need to set an example as leaders of the party for our followers at the regional level, and everywhere where there are Swapo party members. Let us get united,” Herunga said.
He stressed that “If there is a misunderstanding, just ask a question in good faith. You will be responded to in good faith. Respect the Swapo party rules and culture”.