Africa-Press – Namibia. FORMER diplomat Hadino Hishongwa has accused president Hage Geingob of dividing Swapo by not endorsing the party’s current vice-president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, as his preferred candidate for the party’s vice-president position at its upcoming congress.
Hishongwa this week told The Namibian Geingob’s decision not to endorse Nandi-Ndaitwah is an attempt to weaken her and Swapo.
He said Geingob ought to maintain Swapos tradition, because he [Geingob] was endorsed by former president Hifikepunye Pohamba, and Pohamba was endorsed by founding president Sam Nujoma.
“Now it looks like someone who, after he finishes drinking water from the pond, puts in paint because they don’t want the next person to drink,” Hishongwa said.
Hishongwa, who is a traditional leader in the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority, said the formation of breakaway parties such as the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) should serve as a lesson to the party.
Hishongwa, who said he is one of the founding members of Swapo, said Netumbo is a “clean” candidate. who is not fingered in any corrupt activities.
“She is not tainted, she has never sold a farm to the government, she has never received Fishrot money, or any land deal,” he said.
“Let’s not fight someone to cripple Swapo. It’s uncalled for, and not revolutionary for the president to ditch his vice-president.”
The former deputy minister of labour also said the decision by the central committee to allow people who did not qualify to contest for the party’s vice-president position was done deliberately to split Nandi-Ndaitwah’s votes.
Hishongwa said Swapo is weak, which is why it lost 14 seats in the National Assembly and more than 20 constituencies across the country in the 2019 and 2020 elections, respectively.
He said the party may deteriorate further, and this would lead to it being defeated and humiliated.
Hishongwa also took a swipe at press secretary Alfredo Hengari, saying he was surprised to see him attacking him [Hishongwa] in the media.
He said he does not remember seeing Hengari fighting for Swapo during the liberation struggle and that Hengari attacked him for a promotion or a “fat cheque”.
Hengari yesterday denied that the Presidency attacked Hishongwa, saying it merely provided context and clarification.
“No attack on comrade Hishongwa. It is true that at the time when president Hage G Geingob was fighting for the liberation of Namibia, I, Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari, was not even born, and could as a consequence not have led the diplomatic front of Swapo or don the Plan uniform.
“Very soon, comrade Hishongwa will ask why born-frees didn’t participate in the liberation struggle. It’s absurd. Comrade Hishongwa should ascribe to the rallying motto of one Namibia, one nation,” he said.
Geingob this week told the British high commissioner to Namibia, Charles Moore, that he does not have a preferred candidate for the Swapo vice-president position.
Prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, minister of environment, forestry and tourism Pohamba Shifeta, and Swapo vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will contest for the Swapo vice-president position at the Swapo congress in November.
Another contender, minister of defence and veterans affairs Frans Kapofi, yesterday withdrew from the race.
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