Jeremiah Ndjoze
Swapo-Party veterans Ben Amathila and Kanana Hishoono have cautioned against two-centres of power, stressing the need to confirm President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the party’s extra-ordinary Congress at the end of this month.
Speaking to Confidente, Hishoono warned some “agents” of disunity, who want to form two centres of power, noting that “it will be a waste of time” to disrupt the will of the people, which has been manifested by  Nandi-Naitwah’s popularity when she prevailed with overwhelming majority at the November Presidential elections.
“She is our first female President…. The Extraordinary Congress must strengthen her powers by confirming her as the Swapo-Party President.”
“Some of those people are just opportunists. They want to create two centres of power.
They want to create disruptions,” he said, with reference to anti-Nandi-Ndaitwah’s detractors.
“How do you want to come and cause disruption at this stage,” he said.
NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT
Pan African Women’s Organisation (PAWO) President and Former Swapo Party Women’s Council’s Secretary, Eunice Ipinge maintained that there is nothing to worry about as far as the congress is concerned, stating that she is going to the gathering to fulfil the mandate of her Constituency. 
“We don’t have to debate the issue of succession because this is not an ordinary congress. It is basically an extraordinary congress to fulfil the constitution requirements to confirm the acting president as the president of the party,” Ipinge said.
She further maintained that Nandi-Ndaitwah has been the acting president of the party and she successfully filled that gap during the elections, and as such she does not see the necessity for debate on the matter. 
“It is just an issue of confirming her as president of the party, unless some people want to be funny. 
“For the president to be at the helm of both the country and the party is Swapo’s tradition, which was left by (Hifikepunye) Pohamba. He did this to avoid the issue of having two centers of power and we are going to abide by that. 
“There is nothing to be worried about.”  

UNITY IS CRITICAL
Swapo stalwart Ben Amathila who at some time served as the party’s Chief Whip in Parliament, told Confidente that the unity of purpose which propelled the formation of the Swapo party and which still prevails is precious and should be guarded at all times.
“I was there from the beginning and have always been one to ensure that we remained united. The unity we are having in Swapo is critical despite the geopolitical system being very challenging,” Amathila told Confidente. 
If the party congress elects a new president other than Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia will for the first time see a situation where the ruling party president is not the country’s head of state, thereby creating what is known in politics as two centres of power.