SWAPO’s top post “up for grabs next year”

The race to succeed President Sam Nujoma as the leader of the ruling SWAPO party is expected to hot up early next year, a few months before the party’s congress which is due in August 2002, the ‘Namibian’ said on Monday. SWAPO’s secretary general Hifikepunye Pohamba was quoted as saying that although the debate about a successor to Nujoma had yet to begin, SWAPO expected the process to start at the end of this year or early next year, just before the congress. “The party’s congress will discuss the president of the party,” he said. “Those who may wish to campaign may do just that before the Congress. Some people who may wish to stand for the president of the party may just do that,” said Pohamba. He said the congress would also elect members of the central committee, the vice president, secretary general and deputy secretary general.