Aletta Shikololo
Edward Mumbuu
As the curtain fell on the Swapo electoral college yesterday, the ‘pot’, which had been cooking for over 72 hours, delivered a fresh meal, one Swapo had yearned for, for a long time.
It was clear that from the time presiding officer Fillemon Wise Immanuel started reading out the names, familiar faces were pushed to the periphery, making way for, new ones.
Over the years, the pot has always been dominated by party stalwarts and seasoned politicians, particularly Cabinet ministers and members of Parliament.
This time, however, it was not to be. This is because the list is dominated by Swapo foot soldiers from the regions, most of whom have never tasted public office.
Leading the pack with the most votes was Helaria Mukapuli, who garnered 197 votes yesterday.
In the initial top 20 women’s list, only two female Cabinet ministers, Emma Theofelus and Lucia Iipumbu, made the cut.
Another interesting pot delivery among the top 70 prospective parliamentarians – only former agriculture minister Alpheus! Naruseb has reached the age of 70. At 70, he is the oldest.
Buildup
Leading up to the college, the media had been abuzz with reports that some Swapo members, particularly those who were brought into the political limelight by the late president Hage Geingob, were targeted and being purged through ruthless means.
But when it was all said and done, some were considered Geingob’s ‘blue-eyed boys’, among them information minister Emma Theofelus, governors James Uerikua (Otjozondjupa) and Neville Andre (Erongo), and Sharonice Busch, the National Youth Council chairperson, made it high up on the list if the 2019 National Assembly election results, where Swapo secured 63 seats, are anything to go by.
While spanners were thrown in her works from the onset, Theofelus emerged fourth with 162 votes.
But as the party was gearing to compete for the parliamentary seats, Theofelus’ return to Parliament faced a harbinger.
This is after she was elbowed from the Swapo Party Youth League’s list of delegates to the pot.
Pushed by her fellow young comrades, the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) seemingly threw the minister a lifeline when it made her one of the six delegates.
Despite outrage by certain quarters who claimed Theofelus had no credentials as a unionist, NUNW embraced her as their own.
What was also clear yesterday is that many prominent Swapo members, including Cabinet ministers, did not make the party’s list of 96.
Among those who did not make it high up on the list are party stalwarts, labour minister Utoni Nujoma, diplomat Kaire Mbuende, as well as party veteran, liberation struggle icon, Jerry ‘Maudjuu’ Ekandjo, urban and rural development Erastus Uutoni, ex-Cabinet minister Tjekero Tweya, Khomas governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua and MP Gotthard Kasuto.
In addition, some ministers and party stalwarts made the list.
But they will rely on the performance of the party in the upcoming elections to know their fate.
Others will have to pin their hopes squarely on presidential candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to win the presidential election and for her to consider them among her eight presidential appointees as provided for in the supreme law of the land.
Or, their fates are all but sealed.
Chosen ones
What is more, even when it came to Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s presidential appointees, bombshells were dropped.
On the day, Nandi-Ndaitwah also gave Namibians a glimpse into her thought process when she made her first appointments.
As party vice president and de facto acting president, she appointed 10 individuals to the parliamentary list, which will be submitted to the Electoral Commission of Namibia.
They include Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, SPYL secretary Ephraim Nekongo, Indileni Daniel, and former Cabinet minister Alpheus! Naruseb, Ruth Masake, former youth league secretary Elijah Ngurare, Linda Mbwale, Dino Balloti, Fenny Tutjavi, and Erastus Haitengela.
At 22, Tutjavi, a youth activist and public management student at the University of Namibia, is the youngest on the list.
Newbies
Tutjavi is not alone, as the list also features a wave of fresh blood, signalling a strategic shift towards youth in the political landscape.
Among the new faces are young professionals and activists who bring a fresh perspective to Swapo’s dynamics.
Tutjavi, who has been active in student politics and Swapo Party Youth League activities, might become Swapo’s youngest MP.
The late Geingob also appointed Theofelus in 2020 and Patience Masua in 2021 to Parliament.
The duo was 23 and 21 at the time of their appointments.
Tutjavi’s inclusion, an analyst said, marked a deliberate effort to rejuvenate the party’s image and connect with a younger electorate.
“Youth political participation is a generational mission for my current generation. Namibia has a large youth demographic; however, when it comes to political participation, young people are very hesitant. I think it’s very important that if we want to be part of the decision-making table, we need to be actively involved and contribute meaningfully to the political arena,” said Tutjavi, who was in disbelief about her appointment during the interview.
For Tutjavi, her agenda is clear: “I am a young person, and my main agenda remains to represent my constituency of young people. The vice president has seen the potential in me to represent fellow young people who are faced with so many challenges, so it’s a big celebration.”
Presently, Tutjavi is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public management, with a bias in international relations and politics.
Although her goal is to complete her studies, she is also ready to serve on the country’s highest decision-making body.
“The aim is to finish school; however, I know I have very great tasks upon me. Even as a student, I am serving in various structures, and I am going to commit to my studies because it is very important to have academic merits. Therefore, as much as I am going to commit to my parliamentary career, I am also going to be committed to my studies to ensure that I can make meaningful contributions,” she said.
Other new faces include Ndilimani lead vocalist Ileni Castro, Auala Toivo, Christine Haindaka, Marlyn Mbakera, Gaudentia Krohne, Charles Mubita, Marta Asker-Itope, Hilma Iita and Charles McNab.
High table
Another notable young blood on the list is 35-year-old Willem Amutenya, who has over the years agitated for the inclusion of young people at the decision-making table.
The Swapo gods, it now appears, have heard Amutenya’s prayers.
He became a Swapo fast-rising star after he attempted to challenge the party youth league secretary Ephraim Nekongo at the league’s congress in 2022.
The same year, he also became a member of the Swapo central committee.
“This is a victory for the young people of Swapo and the entire nation. It has been long that we have been demanding for young people to be on the table of decision-making, and the dream has come true,” Amutenya said.
Speaking on the youth agenda is Swapo backbencher Tobie Aupindi, who also made the cut in the top 42.
Aupindi emphasised their promise is focused on youth economic empowerment.
During the interview, he also advocated for SME development, women’s empowerment, and socio-economic development.
“I am happy that half the list comprises young people, and we are going to be very unapologetic about it as people are waiting for us to deliver,” he said.
Another new face is Ballotti, the new head of business and public sector banking at First National Bank.
Ballotti previously served as the executive director of MSME innovation and acceleration at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board.
Ngurare euphoria
What stood out, however, was when Ngurare’s name was read out.
Euphoria erupted as the hall came to a standstill, with delegates and candidates alike chanting “Ngurare, Ngurare, Ngurare, Ngurare, Ngurare.”
Ever modest and composed, the deputy agriculture executive director had his usual smile on his face as his comrades embraced, marking his official return to the centre of Swapo politics.
For years, Ngurare had been in the political wilderness and had enjoyed a relatively strenuous relationship with Geingob and his administration.
However, despite the onslaught he faced over the years, including his removal from various boards of Swapo companies to being elbowed from a NamWater board position, Ngurare hardly spoke ill about Swapo or his comrades, mostly electing to remain mum.
Back in 2015, Swapo’s top brass pushed Ngurare off the SPYL cliff and then charged him, along with three others, with bringing the party’s name into disrepute. He was also charged with insulting party leaders.
Although he was later vindicated after the court ruled that his expulsion was unlawful and that he be reinstated, it never happened.
Ngurare had to watch from the sidelines as his deputy at the time, Veikko Nekundi, took charge of the reigns at SPYL and went to Parliament.
Notable absentees
Furthermore, notable figures that did not make it on the list include Obeth Kandjoze, the director general of the National Planning Commission.
Speaking to New Era, Kandjoze said losing is part of the game, and he remains committed to the party.
“I am a Namibian, and I subscribe to the Swapo party membership, and this is why I partook in this process, and if the electorate says no for now, I remain committed, and that’s life,” Kandjoze said.
Asked about the way forward in terms of politics, Kandjoze said time will tell.
“This is now my time out, and I will see what happens. Now the mission is to make sure the party wins the elections. Others have also not made it, so I am no different,” he said.
Hilma Nikanor, the Swapo spokesperson, also failed to make the cut. However, just like Kandjoze, life must go on.
“As a cadre of the Swapo party, who joined in 1975, I fully understand the importance of participating in processes like this. It was always a pleasure for me to be elected previously and to serve during the periods I have served. So, the outcome of these elections is normal, and as our vice president said, there is always a next time,” Nikanor told New Era.
Analysis
Applying his analytical lenses to the pot’s outcome, political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah opined that in terms of gender representation, it looks evenly distributed, which he attributes to Swapo’s commitment to a 50/50 balance.
However, he believes the issue of youth representation is somewhat skewed.
“I didn’t see new young people joining the already young members there. Many of them are coming through the structures and were appointed by the late president. I expected youth representation to increase, but I only see old faces that are already in Parliament,” he said, expressing concern that this is troubling when it comes to raising issues affecting young people.
He also added that the list resembles an old club of familiar names, with not many new aspirants making it, which he finds troubling in terms of the party’s ability to regenerate itself.
“When you keep familiar faces and names every time, you’re cutting off the new faces that can bring in fresh perspectives and ideas,” he said.
On the other hand, Kamwanyah noted that veterans such as Pohamba Shifeta, Peya Mushelenga, and Loide Kasingo are also at the bottom of the list, which left him with the impression that the list may be prioritising new leadership.
