MONDAY, 3.00PM
NAMIBIA’s ruling South West African People’s Organisation at its weekend conference resolved to amend the country’s constitution to allow President Sam Nujoma to stand for a third presidential term.
Nujoma said he was deeply moved and will make himeslf available “to answer the call of duty and to serve my people in whatever capacity”. The Namibian constitution currently only allows a single incumbent to serve two five-year presidential terms. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ben Amathila said the proposed amendment will apply only to Nujoma, and all future presidents will be governed by the two-term restriction.
In other congress resolutions, Nujoma was re-elected party president unopposed, a position he has held since April 1960. Swapo vice-president Hendrik Witbooi beat off a challenge by Prime Minister Hage Geingob to keep his post, winning 58% of votes to Geingob’s 41%. Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba was elected Swapo’s new secretary-general, replacing Labour and Manpower Development Minister Moses Garoeb, who is in poor health and did not make himself available for re-election. Unionist and Khomas regional governor John Pandeni was elected to the new post of deputy secretary-general.