Hertta-Maria Amutenja
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Swapo party leader said there is no bad blood between her and the party’s secretary general, Sophia Shaningwa.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks at a press conference held at the Swapo party headquarters on Thursday, responding to reports suggesting a rift between her and Shaningwa.
She dismissed the allegations as unfounded and damaging, calling for unity ahead of upcoming elections.
The reports, which circulated widely in the media and on social media, claimed that Nandi-Ndaitwah and Shaningwa no longer shared a working relationship or political vision.
The reports suggested a lack of alignment between the two leaders and implied that Shaningwa’s absence from key party and state events was evidence of internal divisions.
Nandi-Ndaitwah refuted such claims.
“The Secretary General and I enjoy excellent and comradely working relations. There is no rift or bad blood between us,” she said.
She added that she and Shaningwa regularly consult each other on party matters and the Swapo party manifesto Implementation Plan, both in person and by phone.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said this is due to their different schedules.
She runs government affairs as the country’s president, while Shaningwa manages the day-to-day operations of the party.
“It is therefore obvious that we cannot attend all events together, as the outcome will always depend on our different schedules,” Nandi-Ndaitwah explained.
Addressing claims about Shaningwa’s absence at major events, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Shaningwa was attending a family funeral during the party’s 65th anniversary.
During Workers Day celebrations, Shaningwa was overseeing the induction of new members in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.
On Genocide Remembrance Day, Shaningwa was attending a meeting of liberation movement sister parties in Luanda, Angola, with Nandi-Ndaitwah’s full knowledge and support.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also responded to claims about the composition of the current administration.
“This is the eighth administration under the leadership of SWAPO. I believe many of you are mature enough to remember that when Namibia gained independence in 1990. Are you saying all those who were in the first administration were all Swapo party members? Why is it an issue now if that is the case? Again, it is an insinuation to divide the party and the people,” she said.
The Swapo manifesto implementation plan aims to boost value addition to natural resources, increase agricultural production and food security, and professionalise creative industries for job creation and economic growth.
Earlier this month, Shaningwa told a local newspaper there was no “beef” between her and the party president.
