Sam Nujoma says farewell

2007-11-27 21:32

Windhoek - Sam Nujoma, a former Namibian president and the father of the country's liberation struggle, reiterated on Tuesday plans to step down as ruling party chief at a congress that will elect his successor.

Nujoma has been at the helm of the South West People's Organisation (Swapo) since its inception in 1960, and the party congress in November, held once every five years, marked the first time a new party president would be voted in.

Nujoma, who served as president of Namibia from 1990 to 2005 and is considered the father of the country's liberation struggle, said he was happy to pass the mantle on to President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

"I am not available for re-election as party president," Nujoma told the 600 Swapo delegates in the capital of Windhoek.

"I am passing the torch and mantle of leadership to comrade Pohamba, the vice-president of Swapo," he said.

"I have confidence in the entire leadership of Swapo to lead the party to greater heights," said Nujoma, 78.

But Nujoma kept a back door open, saying that although he was stepping down as party president, he would still serve the party, if he was wanted.

"I will always make myself available for the party's assignments in order to further strengthen and consolidate the growth of Swapo."

Pohamba, who succeeded Nujoma in March 2005 and is expected to be elected as the new Swapo chief over the next four days of the congress, called for party unity after a series of high-profile defections.

"Let us join hands to rededicate ourselves to the service of our country and to the unity of our people, let us heal our wounds, restore faith and confidence in our leadership and welcome back those who may have felt aggrieved," he told delegates.

Swapo stagnant, says Hamutenya

Several prominent Swapo members resigned earlier this month and formed a new political party, the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), led by former foreign affairs minister Hidipo Hamutenya, who was sacked by Nujoma in 2004.

"There was no room for new ideas, Swapo has become stagnant and without vision," Hamutenya said at the first RDP rally held in Windhoek 10 days ago.

Nujoma called those who abandoned the ruling party for the RDP "enemies of the country" on Sunday, when opening a Swapo central committee meeting.

Last month, the former president had informed the party politburo that he would be stepping down and that he wanted Pohamba to succeed him.

- AFP