Uakutura Kambaekua

The National Unity Democratic Organisation will hold its long-awaited congress at the Ramatex Centre in Windhoek this weekend.

Among the expected outcomes of the two-day congress is the selection of a new executive to oversee the organisation for the next five years. 

It is also expected that several top party figures will battle for the presidential and secretary general positions, seeking to succeed incumbent president Esther Muinjangue, and current party secretary general Joseph Kauandenge who announced two months ago that he would not seek re-election.

Vetaruhe Kandorozu, a former Okakarara constituency councillor, is expected to compete for the party’s top position as president, alongside Aminuis constituency councillor and incumbent party vice president Peter Kazongominja, as well as Windhoek deputy mayor Joseph Uaraa Uapingene.

Throwing the cat among the pigeons is former Namibia Football Association secretary general Barry Rukoro, who has indicated his intention to stand for the Nudo coveted position. 

“This is a party established by the person who is named the father of African nationalism. What I have seen over the last few days does not deserve to be associated with his name. 

We, who have seen a party that is in complete disarray, say that the quality of documents that are submitted to a national executive committee or the national council meeting is completely below par, not even at the level of the football association,” said Rukoro, seemingly justifying his decision to stand to rescue an organisation he thinks is technically on autopilot.  

Whoever emerges victorious will be the Nudo presidential candidate for this year’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, slated for November. 

Kauandenge revealed to Nampa on Tuesday that the opposition party will meet this weekend, 13-14 July 2024, to decide who will be on the list for critical party positions.

Kauandenge stated in an interview that Nudo is ready and that all preparations for the congress are proceeding smoothly.

“We have put all systems in place to have a good congress regarding delegates’ preparedness, logistics, and so on. It’s all systems go,” Kauandenge said.

All positions will be up for grabs, including the top nine positions of president, vice president, national chairperson, deputy national chairperson, secretary general, deputy secretary general, finance secretary, and two deputies.

Despite not confirming the names of those running for various positions, except those who have already declared themselves for the president position, Kauandenge maintained that Nudo does not go to congress with vetted candidate names as nominations come directly from the floor.

“This means that a person can express his or her willingness to run for the president position, but on the day of the congress, he or she might be nominated for any other position than the president position,” he explained.

However, the fundamental vetting has been completed to ensure that all congress delegates are legitimate Nudo members and not pretenders.

Additionally, Kauandenge urged party members to be patriotic and put the party’s interests ahead of their own while avoiding disruptions that could exacerbate internal party differences. About 500 delegates will attend the congress.

Congress 

The last time out, Muinjangue and Kauandenge teamed up in 2019 against Kandorozu’s faction at their watershed congress. 

Their faction was known as ‘Team Nudo’, while Kandorozu stood under the banner ‘Team 100% VK’. That year, Muinjangue faced competition from long-term party servant Kandorozu in a fiercely contested three-day congress. When the results were announced, however, Muinjangue garnered 240 votes out of the possible 495. Kandorozu had 227 votes.

The party then also elected a new vice president, Kazongominja; a secretary general, Kauandenge; a deputy secretary general, Uapingene; and 25 members to the 88-member national council.

The national council is Nudo’s highest decision-making body between two congresses.

A new party treasurer, vice treasurer, national chairperson, and vice chairperson were also unveiled. In May 2018, Nudo attempted but failed to elect a new leadership after chaos erupted during an ordinary congress.

The disagreements emanated from things like illegal delegates to the congress, an 11th-hour court battle, and the mushrooming of party branches.

Exit 

Relinquishing his presidential dream earlier this year, Kauandenge equated the party to a ship on the verge of sinking if it does not rid itself of a “cancer” tearing it asunder.

The cancer he was figuratively referring to is the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) and its two factions.

Kauandenge said his decision to pull out of the Nudo presidential race was due to his affiliation with one OTA faction, which appears not to be in the right books of the powers that be.

“I believe that it was time that political positions were a means to one’s survival. Political positions are a vehicle through which to obtain employment. I hoped we could debunk that because that is not what I believe in. However, I concluded that political positions should be merely used to address societal problems and economic and political issues that confront our people. 

In essence, Kauandenge was accusing some of those contesting for the Nudo presidency of seeking employment or economic survival

Iron lady

Considered Nudo’s ‘Iron Lady’, with one foot already out of the door, Namibia’s first-ever female presidential candidate, Muinjangue, recently bowed out with her head held high.

“Of course, there were critics who thought I was serving in a corrupt Swapo government, but this is not the Swapo government; it’s our government. Your government is my government. Nudo, being part of the government has provided us with the opportunity to provide alternative views and contribute to serving the Namibian people,” Muinjangue said in an earlier interview with New Era.

Like the proverbial great dancer who knows when to leave the stage, she is convinced it is time to go.

According to her, there are some within Nudo and government circles who want her to continue.

“As a leader, I should also set that example and follow in the footsteps of great politicians, such as the late Nelson Mandela, who served his time and said, ‘yes, as a democrat, I’m giving a chance to others to lead’. So, that’s it. I will serve as a member of the party. I can still provide guidance and advice where needed,” Muinjangue, who doubles as deputy health minister, said.

-Nampa

-Additional reporting by Edward Mumbuu

(Nudo)