Africa-Press – Namibia. POLITICAL analysts Rui Tyitende and Henning Melber have argued that president Hage Geingob’s political capital within Swapo has dwindled and does not have much influence on the outcome of the forthcoming elective congress.
Swapo elects its top three – vice president, secretary general, deputy secretary general – next weekend.
Prime minister Sara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and minister of environment, forestry and tourism Pohamba Shifeta are vying for the party’s vice presidency, while incumbent Sophia Shaningwa is battling it out with Oshikoto regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu for secretary general.
Meanwhile, Kavango West regional coordinator David Hamutenya, former deputy minister of environment Uahekua Herunga and Evelyn Nawases-Taeyele are fighting for the deputy secretary general position.
Tyitende’s sentiments come as Geingob calls out campaigners who are using his name to prop up support for candidates in the forthcoming Swapo congress.
“As a leader about to exit the corridors of power, president Geingob’s political capital is in decline and his influence limited.
He said as the current head of state and Swapo president, Geingob, still yields political influence within the rank and file of the party.
“It could be that those exploiting Geingob’s name believe their political future is inextricably linked to his,” Tyitende said.
Tyitende commended the president on being steadfast in his decision not to endorse any of the candidates for the positions being contested at the forthcoming congress.
“His decision not to endorse anyone is good for internal party democracy, despite the fact that he was a beneficiary of that very same process,” he said.
Tyitende, however, questioned the “anti-democratic and draconian” election campaign guidelines that prevent the candidates from articulating their ideas on how they intend to transform society for the better.
“Even contenders for the Miss Namibia pageant articulate a position of what they would do for society, why not for a candidate of a political party that has ambitions to run the affairs of the state and preside over the lives of 2,6 million people?” he added.
In a statement over the weekend, Geingob said he has not called any congress delegates to influence them in favour of any candidates vying for top party positions at the congress which kicks off on Friday.
“The public or delegates to the Swapo [congress] are urged not to believe such claims by any person misrepresenting himself or herself by claiming to be the president. President,” Geingob’s office said in a statement over the weekend.
“Emphasising the principle of playing the ball and not the man or woman, president Geingob believes in fair play, as well as transparent and free elections, in which losers accept defeat and winners act with dignity,” the statement read.
Geingob warned that impersonating someone is a criminal offence and punishable by law.
CULTURE CHANGE
Melber shares Tyitende’s sentiment that Geingob’s endorsement does not have as much weight as candidates might hope.
“Congress participants will not and should not feel obliged to give it any credibility, as long as it does not come from Geingob directly. Given that Geingob himself is a more controversial president than his predecessors, it also has less authority to be endorsed by him,” Melber said.
Melber said name-dropping Geingob might be part of frantic efforts to gain support as candidates try to convince congress delegates that they deserve to be elected.
Geingob’s decision not to endorse anyone suggests he is trying to change the culture inside Swapo regarding succession, Melber said.
He added that choosing a successor should happen based on other criteria than the endorsement of the current office incumbent.
“Therefore, it is a welcome change to deliberately abstain from direct influence through not making any open preferential statements for any of the candidates. Candidates in return should honour this effort and not try to make claims, which are so far unsubstantiated, given Geingob’s continued insistence that he does not endorse any of the competitors,” Melber added.
Melber further said the regional campaigns undertaken by the candidates is a step in the right direction.
However, he added, with wider transparency the general public has a better idea of what the candidates stand for, even if they do not have a say in their election.
“Democracy lives from transparency and accountability, and it would be good to learn what the candidates promise to measure the elected ones on their delivery. Generally, however, candidates in Swapo are elected based on other criteria (factional and regional ones) than the political programme they have,” Melber said.
Swapo elects its top three – vice president, secretary general, deputy secretary general – next weekend.
Prime minister Sara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and minister of environment, forestry and tourism Pohamba Shifeta are vying for the party’s vice presidency, while incumbent Sophia Shaningwa is battling it out with Oshikoto regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu for secretary general.
Meanwhile, Kavango West regional coordinator David Hamutenya, former deputy minister of environment Uahekua Herunga and Evelyn Nawases-Taeyele are fighting for the deputy secretary general position.
Tyitende’s sentiments come as Geingob calls out campaigners who are using his name to prop up support for candidates in the forthcoming Swapo congress.
“As a leader about to exit the corridors of power, president Geingob’s political capital is in decline and his influence limited.
He said as the current head of state and Swapo president, Geingob, still yields political influence within the rank and file of the party.
“It could be that those exploiting Geingob’s name believe their political future is inextricably linked to his,” Tyitende said.
Tyitende commended the president on being steadfast in his decision not to endorse any of the candidates for the positions being contested at the forthcoming congress.
“His decision not to endorse anyone is good for internal party democracy, despite the fact that he was a beneficiary of that very same process,” he said.
Tyitende, however, questioned the “anti-democratic and draconian” election campaign guidelines that prevent the candidates from articulating their ideas on how they intend to transform society for the better.
“Even contenders for the Miss Namibia pageant articulate a position of what they would do for society, why not for a candidate of a political party that has ambitions to run the affairs of the state and preside over the lives of 2,6 million people?” he added.
In a statement over the weekend, Geingob said he has not called any congress delegates to influence them in favour of any candidates vying for top party positions at the congress which kicks off on Friday.
“The public or delegates to the Swapo [congress] are urged not to believe such claims by any person misrepresenting himself or herself by claiming to be the president. President,” Geingob’s office said in a statement over the weekend.
“Emphasising the principle of playing the ball and not the man or woman, president Geingob believes in fair play, as well as transparent and free elections, in which losers accept defeat and winners act with dignity,” the statement read.
Geingob warned that impersonating someone is a criminal offence and punishable by law.
CULTURE CHANGE
Melber shares Tyitende’s sentiment that Geingob’s endorsement does not have as much weight as candidates might hope.
“Congress participants will not and should not feel obliged to give it any credibility, as long as it does not come from Geingob directly. Given that Geingob himself is a more controversial president than his predecessors, it also has less authority to be endorsed by him,” Melber said.
Melber said name-dropping Geingob might be part of frantic efforts to gain support as candidates try to convince congress delegates that they deserve to be elected.
Geingob’s decision not to endorse anyone suggests he is trying to change the culture inside Swapo regarding succession, Melber said.
He added that choosing a successor should happen based on other criteria than the endorsement of the current office incumbent.
“Therefore, it is a welcome change to deliberately abstain from direct influence through not making any open preferential statements for any of the candidates. Candidates in return should honour this effort and not try to make claims, which are so far unsubstantiated, given Geingob’s continued insistence that he does not endorse any of the competitors,” Melber added.
Melber further said the regional campaigns undertaken by the candidates is a step in the right direction.
However, he added, with wider transparency the general public has a better idea of what the candidates stand for, even if they do not have a say in their election.
“Democracy lives from transparency and accountability, and it would be good to learn what the candidates promise to measure the elected ones on their delivery. Generally, however, candidates in Swapo are elected based on other criteria (factional and regional ones) than the political programme they have,” Melber said.
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