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THE scramble to recount Swapo’s central committee (CC) election votes is linked to the battle for control of this crucial party organ.

The CC list could be key in determining deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaiwath’s future parliamentarians if the ruling party wins the 2024 national elections.

Swapo vice president Nandi-Ndaitwah’s faction, which includes Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa and deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga, won big based on this week’s congress results.

Nandi-Ndaitwah and Shaningwa’s faction is allegedly disappointed that some of their supporters failed to make the cut for the central committee, a key party organ which runs the party with the secretary general.

The names of Nandi-Ndaitwah and Shaningwa’s faction which failed to make the cut include former Swapo spokesperson Hilma Nicanor, deputy mines minister Kornelia Shilunga, lawmaker Lucia Witbooi, and businessman Jacob Nghifindaka.

Their rivals say the winning slate failed to control the CC, which acts on behalf of the congress when it is not in session.

It also implements all congress decisions.

Former minister Helmut Angula says the central committee is key as it provides a pool of candidates who could stand to be in the party’s parliamentary contest at its electoral college.

Sources say the winning team allegedly tried to push for a recount of the CC, hoping it would result in the inclusion of certain candidates, thus swaying control of the organ in their favour.

Sources point to Shaningwa’s directive on Tuesday night to recount the CC votes as a decision allegedly aimed at gaining control of the powerful body.

She is accused of pushing for her supporters and close associates to observe the recounting.

Shaningwa yesterday morning directed the party’s elective congress presiding officer, Joshua Kaumbi and his team, to recount all the CC election ballots.

“All ballot papers are to be recounted, verified and votes appropriately allocated,” Shaningwa said in a letter to Kaumbi on Tuesday.

She said a full report should be submitted to the ruling party’s leadership through her office by today.

The recounting process must be conducted in the presence of the police and Swapo’s recounting observers, she said.

These include Thaddeus Maswahu, deputy campaign manager for Nandi-Ndaitwah’s election campaign Sankwasa James Sankwasa, press secretary Alfredo Hengari, former health minister Bernard Haufiku, and special adviser in Shaningwa’s office Tangeni Haindongo.

Other observers are France Kaundinge and National Housing Enterprise (NHE) chief executive officer Gisbertus Mukulu.

Mukulu was Shaningwa’s campaign manager for the 2017 Swapo congress.

The observers also include State House executive director Grace Uushona, parliamentarian Hamunyera Hambyuka, deputy minister of finance Maureen Hinda-Mbuende, Tuyenikelao Nikanor, and Mathew Nambahu.

However, yesterday morning was dominated by concerns that Shaningwa’s decision could be illegal since the recount was supposed to be directed by the CC.

CC member-elect Ndahafa Hapulile yesterday wrote to Shaningwa saying only the party’s central committee can order a recount of ballot papers – not the secretary general.

Hapulile does not support the Nandi-Ndaitwah faction.

She said the matter can only be dealt with by the newly elected CC as per the party rules and procedures for the election of office-bearers.

“It’s against this background that I wish to request you, comrade secretary general elect, to refer the election petition to the relevant structure empowered to deal with such a matter, which is the central committee,” she wrote.

ANOTHER TWIST

Yesterday some members of Swapo affiliate the Former Plan Combatants’ Association (FPCA) wrote to Shaningwa expressing their dissatisfaction with the composition of the CC.

They said they believe the list of both candidates and delegates has been “doctored with ulterior motives”.

Kaumbi, however, in an interview with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) yesterday said he was told by the secretary general that she received a petition from some delegates who requested that the votes be recounted. Shaningwa allegedly asked him for his advice, and he allegedly said he agreed that a recount should take place.

“I did not take certain steps, and she gave us an order that we should start recounting today at 09h00. I prepared my team. Again we got a call that the top leadership is in a meeting and they don’t want us to continue,” Kaumbi said.

‘CONFUSION’

CC permanent member Nahas Angula yesterday described the current situation as confusing.

He said an election has procedures to ensure all those who take part can have faith in the process.

“Where is the reconciliation of the votes? When you are counting elections, you have to say ‘so many people voted, so many voted for A and for B, the total who voted is so much, and so many abstained and are spoiled’.

“Then people will be satisfied that this is a proper counting,” the Swapo veteran said.

The ruling party’s newly elected top four leaders yesterday met to deliberate on a recount.

“Well, if the top four are meeting, then we will wait for them to give guidance for the whole process,” Angula said.

Kaumbi yesterday said no recount has taken place.

He said the ruling party’s president, Hage Geingob, and Nandi-Ndaitwah, as well Shaningwa and Herunga are set to make a decision on a possible recount today.

WHEELCHAIRED

When Geingob became Swapo’s vice president after the resignation of party president Hifikepunye Pohamba in April 2015, he had control over the central committee.

Although he faced strong opposition from former ministers, such as Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana and former prime minister Nahas Angula, Geingob mostly dominated the CC in 2017.

Political analyst Graham Hopwood yesterday said a seat on the CC is a possible pathway to getting onto the politburo – Swapo’s executive committee.

“So, it is important in terms of influence in the party to have a central committee place. Swapo has always stressed having a position in the party structures as being important to political advancement,” he said.

This, he said, is emphasised by the Helmuth amendments.

“Which makes elevation to high positions in the party dependent on serving 10 years in the central committee,” he said.

He believes there is a notion that one has to earn any senior position through having worked through the party structures.

“I’ve often heard Swapo members deride others for being ‘wheelchaired’ into positions. This also serves to emphasise that prospective leaders have to be loyal rather than personally ambitious,” Hopwood said.

He said recognising loyalty before actual ability is key to moving upwards politically.

“The party has ended up promoting mediocrity and deterring those leaders who could bring innovation and modern thinking to the party,” he said.