SWAPO’S elective congress was thrown into chaos yesterday by concerns over the voting process, faulty ballot paper and shocking revelations from Sophia Shaningwa, the secretary general of the ruling party, that the elections could be rigged.
“The secretary general raised the point that it has come to their knowledge that there are people who are planning to state they need voting assistance so that their people go into the booth with them and vote on their behalf,” a source who attended the congress said yesterday.
Shaningwa was a key trump at the 2017 Swapo congress to president Hage Geingob’s Harambee slate. But, she has now become a fierce competitor.
Some delegates felt that yesterday’s congress proceedings were chaotic, out of control.
“Meeting ended in chaos. No clear direction about the way forward.,” a delegate told The Namibian yesterday around 18h00.
One of the major concerns is the lack of serial numbers for ballot papers for the vice president candidates, namely deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, and minister of environment, forestry and tourism Pohamba Shifeta.
Yesterday’s signs suggested that Geingob was pushing for Kuugongelwa–Amadhila, and Shifeta.
Yesterday, it was not clear who would succeed to the Swapo throne.
The ruling party has largely campaigned along two regional and tribal lines.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s team is dominated largely by the Ohangwena Region, while Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has the support of the Omusati Region.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s team is also largely backed by former Team Swapo heavyweights, such as Oshikoto regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu, and former home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana.
CONCERNS
Geingob started the voting process yesterday around 19h00, after chaotic talks between congress delegates.
Despite a public declaration of unity, backroom discussions were allegedly dominated with chaos.
Another concern was that the voter list was not verified, even though it was supposed to be posted a day before elections.
All these claims were made at Windhoek over the weekend, where 795 Swapo delegate met to elect their leaders at the ruling Party’s congress.
The congress began on Thursday. The registration of delegate, the official opening and the tabling accountability reports dominated the first three days.
Chaos broke out over the failure to ban officials accused of corruption from voting, as well as concerns about other forms of foul play.
Yesterday, some delegates predicted that a deadlock could result in the halting of the elections. These elections were to elect the presidential candidate for Swapo’s 2024 national election.
Shaningwa yesterday sounded the alarm, saying she heard a rumour that delegates are claiming to be partially blind so they can bring in assistance – a tactic which she said could lead to vote rigging.
The election rules allow certain delegates to be assisted in the voting booth, provided that the assistant is not a delegate.
Yesterday, it was decided that only members from the election committee would be able to assist such voters.
STEP-ASIDE RULE
The congress allegedly discussed the step-aside rule. This would require members of ruling parties who are being investigated for corruption or other serious crimes to withdraw from participation in government and party activities, or face suspension.
Two delegates, according to Namibians, recommended the step aside rule.
However, it was rejected as it was meant to cover all corruption-related charges and not be brought up by the authorities.
Yesterday, Austin Samupwa (executive director of the ruling party) denied allegations of vote-rigging.
“There’s nothing like that,” he said.
Samupwa said that they were busy getting ready to vote.
“The lists have been verified … the voting process will start now,” he said.
The Swapo congress secretariat verified names of 795 delegates who were set to vote for the new leadership.
Swapo will elect a vice president, secretary general and deputy secretary general as well as a new central commission.
Although elections were scheduled to begin at 9h00 yesterday morning, they were delayed.
The congress yesterday evaluated reports tabled by Shaningwa and Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
Delegates also evaluated work of the central Committee to Consider, Adopt, Amend, or Reject Reports, including financial reports.
GEINGOB’S PEP TALK
Geingob spoke at the opening of Congress on Friday and stated that Swapo has a long history of fighting corruption.
He stated that it was the Swapo-led government that created the Anti-Corruption Commission to be an empowered institution to fight corruption.
“Ministers are in jail and some may follow. I don’t know,” he said.
Geingob said that whenever corruption rears it ugly head, Swapo takes action.
He stated that he had removed corrupt ministers from his cabinet in 2019.
“By now you must have proof of those who benefited from that. I took action, I heard. I didn’t understand everything. I took action,” the president said.
Geingob said that it was not good to see your fellow comrades in prison.
He suggested that the justice systems be reviewed and accused media of not reporting on his position as Africa’s third-best president.
Geingob claimed that he donates N$60000 of his monthly salary each month to feed the hungry.
He urged the congress delegates to accept winning candidates and support them.
“Whoever wins democratically . . . no cheating. We will expose cheaters. We have systems here,” Geingob said.
He implored party members to not believe what he called “prophets of doom” who are saying there is disunity within Swapo.
The president stated that when party leaders are not within the party structures, it should not be taken as division or disunity.
“It is part of the democratic process, which we as members and sympathisers have agreed to entrench in the constitution of the Swapo party,” he said.
Source: namibian
