Martin Endjala
The resignation of President Hage Geingob as Swapo Party president before the 2024 election will be filled through the provisions of the party constitution.
President Geingob indicated earlier that he would step down from the party’s presidency and pave the way for the Vice President that has been elected at the November party congress to take over.
He revealed his intentions at the Swapo Party’s internal campaign launch on 14 September.
Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of International Relations, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Minister of Environment and Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta are in the running for the Vice President position.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwenya gave two possible scenarios to be considered in the event of Geingob resigning.
One of this would be the VP acting as the party’s president until the congress or a special congress is convened to elect a substantive president, as well someone to fill the vacant vice presidency, clarifying that there is no automatic filling of vacancies as per the party constitution.
Swapo spokesperson, Hilma Nicanor in another interview said that an extraordinary congress will be called to decide on the filling of the party’s presidency.
Meanwhile, the Swapo Executive Director Austin Samupwa, stated that should the presidency become vacant, the party will call an extra-ordinary congress to convene and elect a candidate as the party cannot remain without a president.
In addition, Samupwa affirmed that till that time comes, President Geingob remains the President of both the country and the Swapo Party.
