Deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila were nominated for the Swapo vice president position at a politburo meeting of the party on Monday.
Labour minister Utoni Nujoma and environment minister Pohamba Shifeta were also nominated, but they failed to pass to the next stage because they were not seconded.
A source familiar with the meeting said Swapo’s Oshikoto regional coordinator, Armas Amukwiyu, and Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa were nominated to vie for the ruling party’s de-facto chief administrator position.
Parliamentarian Lucia Witbooi, Evelyn Nawases-Tayele and Kavango West regional coordinator Hamutenya David were nominated for the deputy secretary general position.
The politburo meeting on Monday will be followed by a central committee meeting on Saturday (10 September), where the final decision on who will stand for top Swapo positions will be taken.
Other contender, such as defence minister Frans Kapofi, could still be in the race to challenge Nandi-Ndaitwah and Kuugongelwa-Amadhila for the vice president position.
Whoever gets this position will succeed president Hage Geingob as Swapo’s next presidential candidate.
