Swapo Party elects list of Parliamentarians

Staff Reporter

THE Swapo Party Electoral College, known as “The Pot,” today announced the list of Swapo’s candidates for the National Assembly for next year.

The event, which started over the weekend with a total of 245 delegates voting, saw the announcement of the results at the Khomasdal Gateway Centre, culminating in 84 male and female candidates making it onto the list. The higher a candidate is on the list in terms of the number of votes received, the better their chances are of making it into the National Assembly.

The list further includes senior officials from the party who are exempt from the electoral process by virtue of their positions in the party. These include the Secretary General (SG) of the party, Sophia Shaningwa, and its deputy SG, Uahekua Herunga.

Those appointed to the list by the Vice President include Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Ephraim Nekongo, Indilleni Daniel, Alpheus !Naruseb, Ruth Masake, Elijah Ngurare, Linda Mbwale, Dino Ballotti, Fenny Tutjavi, and Erastus Mbumba Haitangela.

Those who did not make it onto the list include, among others, Deputy Minister of Finance Maureen Hinda-Mbuende, the Governor of the Khomas Region Laura McLeod-Katjirua, Education Minister Anna Nghipondoka, and former minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, who aimed to make a comeback after falling out during the Geingob faction.

On the male candidates’ side, notable figures like Swapo backbencher Jerry Ekandjo, who was pushing for his anti-homosexuality bills, also did not make the list. Other top figures who missed out include the Minister of Labour Uutoni Nujoma, Director of the National Planning Commission Obeth Kandjoze, Minister of Urban and Rural Development Erastus Uutoni, and MP Tjekero Tweya, among others.

Speaking at the event, the Vice President and Swapo Presidential Candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, addressed those who did not make it, saying that this is not the end and that future opportunities would arise. She encouraged those who made it onto the list to go out and convince the Namibian people to vote for the Swapo Party.

“I can tell you, you can talk internationally, you can put it in your CVs: I was a candidate in the Swapo 2024 electoral college, which forms part of the list for those who will become parliamentarians. You should take pride in coming this far. If you did not make it, there is always another day; nothing will end here. Therefore, I sincerely congratulate you,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

The VP further announced that the party would launch its manifesto on 14 September and urged all party leaders to be present.

The Swapo Pot list.