Martin Endjala
The Swapo Party top campaigners were in the Kavango East Region this week campaigning and meeting with different groups of people, including traditional leaders, meeting and greeting delegates, visiting government projects etc.
Tonight, they are behind closed doors to present their plans for the party and the country to current members of the Central Committee, CC candidates and delegates to upcoming congress.
The Kavango East campaign could not have come at a better time for one of the candidates, whose 55th birthday is on the day they had to present their plans behind close door to the delegates.
On her birthday, Saara Kuukongelwa-Amadhila stood out head above shoulders of her two competitors, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Pohamba Shifeta, with her presentation that was an expert analysis of the problems the country faces and how to solve them. From inside the hall where the presentations were made, the Windhoek Observer is informed that Kuukongelwa-Amadhila’s message was well received.
Also ahead of the closed door affair, delegates clearly showed their support for the Prime Minister through an orderly mature behaviour.
The Swapo regional coordinator, who was in charge of the arrangements would not leave anything to chance and even drew up additional rules for the day not to allow mob behaviour, which according to those in attendance played perfectly well in the Prime Minister’s favour.
The Windhoek Observer’s stringer in Rundu informs us that around 70 percent of Kavango East delegates are solidly behind Kuukongelwa Amadhila.
Her message to the delegates demonstrated a superior understanding of the economy, which she dissected like an expert surgeon and proposed proper panacea for the ailments the country is going through, the Observer is told by those who attended the closed-door campaign.
Large crowds were following some of the candidates, who are said to have bussed them in from other regions, but would be inconsequential to the process.
Some candidates are posting photos of gatherings they claim to have had with delegates from the regions to the congress.
After today’s campaign, the candidates will pack up for Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West before heading to the Ohangwena Region, Omusati and Kunene regions among others.
Each candidate was accorded one hour to present to the delegates, something that is unprecedented given the number of candidates vying for both Vice President, Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General.
Incumbent Secretary General, Sophia Shaningwa and Armas Amukwiyu are in the race for the SG position and Lucia Witbooi, Uahekua Herunga, David Hamutenya and Evelyn Nawases-Tayele for the DSG.
Despite the huge task ahead of them, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was spotted in the region donating chairs and a table to the Mbora Junior Secondary School in a Rundu suburb, among other engagements she attended to.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, Rundu constituency councillor Paulus Mbangu said he is not concerned of the motives behind the donation, as long as it is made in the interest of the Namibian child. The donation was received on behalf of the Mbora SP Principal.
He said will never say no to a donation that will bring a change and improve certain aspects of the school-going pupils in the constituency.
Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta was also spotted at a handover of a Moringa production site funded under the CBNRM EDA Project by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) yesterday in the Likwaterera Community Forest, Rundu Rural Constituency in the Kavango East Region.
Opposition MPs are complaining that the candidates who are members of parliament have been neglecting their law-making duties through their absence because of the campaign.
The ministers campaigning had also been attending to their government responsibilities, such as making regional visits to projects and meeting local and regional councillors, as well as their staff.
