Nujoma's successor picked
2004-05-30 09:08
Windhoek - Hifikepunye Pohamba, the candidate favoured by President Sam Nujoma as his successor, was chosen by the country's ruling Swapo party to be its candidate in elections later this year, party officials said on Sunday.
The choice meant that Pohamba, who currently serves as minister for land in the arid, sparsely populated country, is virtually certain to be elected the next president when Nujoma retires in November.
Pohamba was elected at a special congress of the South West Africa People's Organisation, which Nujoma led prior to Namibia's independence from neighbouring South Africa in 1990.
The winning candidate beat two other would-be presidents, former foreign minister Hidipo Hamutenya and education minister Nahas Angula.
Nujoma sacked Hamutenya as foreign minister on May 24, only days before the special congress, clearly indicating that his favourite was Pohamba.
In a vote late on Saturday the 516 delegates attending the congress, including Nujoma himself, gave Pohamba 213 votes, Hamutenya 166 and Angula 137. Angula then dropped out of the contest.
Nujoma, who is 75, has said he will retire after the elections, due in November.
The congress had opened late on Friday with Nujoma calling it "crucial not only in the history of Swapo, but also in the history of our beloved country", and exhorting delegates to elect "the right and suitable candidate".
Nujoma stressed to his party that "experience from Africa proves that leadership transition can be difficult", and he hoped that in Namibia it would take place in a "fair, democratic and transparent" fashion.
The days leading up to the conference swirled with political intrigue, including Hamutenya's sacking and secrecy around the congress venue, moves which local media charged were aimed at sowing confusion and benefitting Nujoma's candidate.
Local human rights organisations have also accused Nujoma's office of waging a "dirty tricks campaign", characterised by disinformation, bribery, intimidation, smear tactics, mud-slinging and general demonisation aimed at Hamutenya and Angula.
He announced his decision to step down in April, a decision which many Namibians are still finding hard to believe.
Nujoma and Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe are now the only leaders in sub-Saharan Africa who have continuously ruled their countries since independence.
Namibia is a former German colony rich in minerals, notably diamonds. It was formerly known as South West Africa, and ruled by South Africa.