August 30, 2002
Swapo Congress 'hazy' on fourth term issue
A resolution taken by Swapo on the „fourth term issue“ is
ambiguous on whether President Sam Nujoma will run again for the top office or
not. The text of the resolution is careful not to endorse the President's
stated intention to stand down in March 2005 and adds that the succession issue
will be discussed at Congress in 2004. The resolution says that Congress noted
an earlier announcement that Nujoma will step down at the end of his current
term in March 2005. The Congress decided "to confirm the decision of the
Central Committee to hold an extraordinary Congress in 2004 with a view to
addressing the question of succession". The wording of the resolution means
that it is possible that the extraordinary Congress could call on Nujoma to
serve a fourth term.
In other resolutions, the Congress "directed" the Government to:
- increase funds for the purchase of resettlement farms from N$20
million to N$100 million.
- expropriate 192 farms owned by non-Namibians
- undertake a study "to determine the implication of separating "the
Executive from the Legislative" arms of the State.
- broaden the composition of the Judicial Services Commission "to
reflect the interest of the people".
- continue with infrastructure construction such as the new port at
Cape Frio.
- extend the Trans-Caprivi Highway from Rundu through Nkurenkuru,
Okongo, Eenhana, Onhuno, Outapi, Tsandi until the Atlantic Ocean..
- go ahead with the building of the hydro-electricity scheme at Epupa
in order to "accelerate the development of Kunene Region and southern Angola".
- ensure tourist resorts are built in communal areas
- set water prices
- pick Grade Seven students who would be trained as scientists,
monitored through their progress and be made to work for Government for at
least 10 years.
- take over the erection and maintenance of Swapo's tombstone project
through which grave markers for fallen Swapo guerrillas will be put up
throughout the country.
Other resolutions dealing specifically with Swapo internal affairs are
that:
- the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General should be
full-time officials of the party. Justice Minister Ngarikutuke Tjiriange is the
present Secretary General and Khomas Regional Governor John Pandeni his deputy.
- the Central Committee "evolve a mechanism" to ensure that at least 30
per cent of the women are elected to the Central Committee.
- Swapo should establish an Institute for Political Studies (IPS) to
train party members, mobilisers and other functionaries.
- Swapo will set up a Sam Nujoma Foundation, as a not-for-profit
organisation that will give bursaries to Namibians who will study "science and
technical subjects (The Namibian)
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