• By Stefanus Nashama

Although the SWAPO Party has frozen the vice president position until its next elective congress in 2027, social activists and political analysts are calling on the party to select a leader with strong and unifying leadership qualities when the time comes.
The vice presidency became vacant after the party’s central committee earlier this year endorsed Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the sole candidate to assume the position of party president, following the passing of President Hage Geingob in February 2024.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to serve the remainder of Geingob’s term, which ends in 2027.
By party style and constitution, the top four positions which are that of the president, vice president, secretary general, and deputy secretary general will be contested at an elective congress in 2027, unless something happens before such time which will require the party to hold an extraordinary congress. 
All current occupants of these positions will see their terms conclude at that time.

YOUTHFUL
In light of this, social activist Rosa Namises has urged the party to appoint a leader who is both youthful, mature and with integrity as well as vision. She emphasised that the future vice president should be restorative, strategic and forward-looking, with a strong grasp of both domestic and international governance issues. “The person must be honest, fearless and truthful. They do not necessarily need to have gone into exile, but must be resilient, academically, politically fit and committed to building the culture many of us envisioned when we were part of the party structures.” Namises also called for a transparent selection process, free from tribalism and favoritism, encouraging open competition among qualified cadres. “SWAPO has the opportunity to set an example for other parties. It has strong national support and ample resources to lead by example.”

UNIFIER
Political analyst and academic Andrew Niikondo echoed the need for principled leadership, stating that unity should be the cornerstone of the next vice president’s character. “The individual must be a unifier, someone who can hold the party together. Without unity, there is no party,” Niikondo advised. He stressed the importance of selecting a candidate based on the party’s constitutional criteria rather than gender or popularity. “Some people present themselves well in public, but they have not been tested or trusted as true cadres. We should not base this on gender alone,” he added. Niikondo further noted that while gender representation is important under the party’s zebra-style system, it will likely depend on the makeup of the other top positions in 2027. “For example, if the president and secretary general are women, gender balance may influence the choice of vice president.”
Internal party sources also suggested that SWAPO should begin preparing younger leaders for high-level roles.

NOTHING WRONG
SWAPO deputy secretary general, Uahekua Herunga supported the call for youthful and unifying cadres to be considered for the vice president position. “There is nothing wrong with that call. There are Namibians who believe that young people within the party should take up such leadership roles. As a democratic party, SWAPO does not exclude anyone, as long as they meet the necessary requirements for the position,” Herunga noted.  He said emphasised that while the party welcomes all eligible candidates, it will ultimately be up to the congress to decide who assumes which position in 2027.
“Whether the congress elects a young person, someone of middle age, or an elder, it will be a fair outcome.”  He added that such viewpoints are rooted in a genuine concern for the party’s future and the interests of the Namibian people.