By: Justicia Shipena

On Wednesday, the ruling Swapo party will launch its inter and intra campaign for its seventh congress.

The congress, which will take place in November this year, will elect the new leadership of the party and eventually the candidate running for the presidency in the upcoming 2024 elections.

The party this past weekend, during its central committee meeting, voted for the final candidates running for the race of vice president, secretary general and deputy secretary general positions.

This has seen environment minister Pohamba Shifeta and defence minister Frans Kapofi have been nominated to run for the Swapo Party presidency alongside Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.

Shifeta received 57 votes, while Kapofi got 46. Tom Alweendo and Jerry Ekandjo scored 18 and 37, respectively. For Ekandjo, this could mean the end of an era of trial and defeat.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Nandi-Ndaitwah were nominated at the politburo meeting.

Meanwhile, campaigning for the deputy secretary-general is Uahekua Herunga, Lucia Witbooi, Evelyn Nawases-Tayele,

Namundjebo-Tilahun, Dawid Hamutenya and Elijah Ngurare.

The current secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa will again wrestle the Oshikoto coordinator Armas Amukwiyu for the position.

Speaking to The Villager on Tuesday, Swapo spokesperson Hilma Nicanor said the reason why the campaign could not take place on Monday or that the launch was because the campaign rules were being worked on.

An invite now sent out by the party late Tuesday evening confirms that the campaigning rules are ready.

The campaign will be launched at 14h00 on Wednesday at the Swapo part national headquarters boardroom by the party president Hage Geingob.

The spokesperson describes the atmosphere in the party head of the launch and congress as ‘comradely’ and unity.

“The atmosphere from the Swapo members is clear; looking at all the processes that have been concluded, whether at the regional level and now at the central or national level, including the candidates to contest for those positions. It is in a comradely spirit,” she said.

She added the members are singing the same song of unity.

“That is driving us in the whole process of the campaign to remember that what is important to us is for unity to be maintained because, without unity, the party cannot move forward,” she said.

Nicanor said Swapo members must ensure that everything they do is in unity, adding that the campaign is not for the individual’s interest but must carry the party’s interest.

“We are looking forward to a very successful seventh party congress. The congress will still make the party emerge victorious and more united for us to produce again party cardinals who take up the lead of the party leadership for the next five years after the congress is held. I wish all our members success in building up to the congress and after the congress to continue being the united party we are.”

The song of unity was also sung by the party’s president, Geingob, during the opening of the central committee meeting on Saturday.

Geingob urged the nominated candidates not to fight amongst each other when they don’t emerge at the top.

“Those who cannot make it, tomorrow is still there. Play the ball, don’t kick a person,” said Geingob. justicia@thevillager.com.na