By Vitalio Angula, WINDHOEK Namibia
During a prolonged party congress that ended Monday night, members of Namibia’s ruling Swapo party re-elected Netumbo-Nandi Ndaitwah, the country’s deputy prime minister, as its vice president.
Ndaitwah said she is prepared to
lead.
"This is the time I am
given in order to take the position. I am asking party members to give me that
opportunity and I am ready,” she told VOA.
According to the Swapo
constitution, she will be the party’s candidate for president when the
incumbent Hage Geingob, completes his limit of two terms in office in about 15
months.
Ndaitwah cruised to an easy
first-round victory over two other candidates, including her boss, the current
prime minister.
Amongst the delegates were
observers from nearby countries, such as Mike Bimha, national political
commissar for Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF party.
He commended Namibia’s ruling
party for ushering in new leadership through democratic systems and processes.
"Everybody was attending
and the procedures were followed diligently. We were also delighted that the
election process went on well. Procedures were followed and it was very
transparent," Bimha said.
Phil Ya Nangoloh, a political
analyst and head of the Namibia National Society for Human Rights, told VOA
that the election of a female candidate is a seismic transformation of the
ruling party which was formed in 1960.
"It is clearly an
encouragement to women that they are just equal as men are, and they have not
to shy away to participate in political processes and to be elected to even the
highest position of power."
"It’s a victory for
Namibia as a whole," Nangoloh added.
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