WINDHOEK-Amidst claims of unhappiness and rejection of the ruling party’s recently held Electoral College; the party yesterday claimed that all participants have accepted the results.
The party’s position was yesterday confirmed by party Secretary-General, Nangolo Mbumba, during a press conference that was convened to make the public aware what was discussed during the party’s three-hour Politburo meeting on Tuesday.
The media has been abuzz with reports that some Swapo members were unhappy with the way the Electoral College was conducted and were flirting with the idea of suing the party over the results of that elective conference.
Many prominent Swapo members, including four cabinet ministers, did not make the party’s list of 96. Several other ministers and party stalwarts made the list but will rely on the performance of the party in the upcoming elections to know their fate.
“The Politburo noted with satisfaction that the outcome of the Electoral College has been generally accepted by all those who participated in the process. The Politburo decided that if there are any issues that warrant consideration by the party, such issues would be dealt with internally.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, President Hifikepunye Pohamba apparently said the outcome of the Electoral College reflects the spirit of the Swapo Party constitution as well as the will of the majority Swapo members.
Mbumba confirmed that questions were raised with regards to the campaign tactics used by some delegates, explaining that: “There have been queries regarding the style of campaigning the night before the pot. Campaigning is not prohibited in Swapo, people are free to campaign individually or in a group but they should not campaign against others but rather promote themselves.”
“The party will look into anything that party members consider not to have been proper before or after the electoral process,” Mbumba said.
The Secretary General, however, indicated that nothing would interfere with the election campaigns of the party.
“Some outstanding leaders and friends did not make it, but that will not allow me to stop machinery or reject those on the list. The point here is that we have a list and we have to campaign with this list,” said Mbumba.
Following a dismal turnout at the party’s manifesto launch earlier this month, the party blamed the low turnout on poor mobilisation.
“We were reprimanded like hell by the leadership because they were unhappy. The Politburo noted that the low turnout of the public was due to mobilisation efforts on the part of the organisers. The Politburo called on the rank and file to guard against such lapses,” he said.
Meanwhile, prominent businessman, Mathews Taapopi Hamutenya handed over of a fleet of six vehicles to the party, which will be used during the 2014 general elections campaign. Hamutenya, a member of the party’s sub-committee on logistics and transport, said he decided to provide the vehicles after noticing that there is a lack of transport at the party’s disposal for the upcoming elections campaigns.
The hired vehicles, which he says will cost him N$900 000 during the three months which they will be used by the party, will be dispatched to the regions.