President Hage Geingob has cautioned the just-elected vice president of the Swapo Party, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, that the task lying ahead is heavy.

Geingob congratulated Nandi-Ndaitwah after she emerged victorious with 491 votes at the Swapo congress on Monday, and stands eligible to be Swapo’s first female presidential candidate of the country for the general elections in 2024.

“Your task lying ahead is heavy, the war is only starting now because we are going to face others. Today’s result [made] history, we have a female comrade who might take over as Swapo president and probably that of the country, and it is not easy to stand for the presidency office,” he said.

Geingob said the Swapo elections were held in a peaceful and united manner, therefore the momentum should continue, and party members should “play the ball and not the person”.

He further noted that the election results are a Swapo win therefore there is no division and party members should hold hands to prepare for the national general elections slated for 2024.

“We are here together holding hands and singing unitedly, there is no chaos and we are celebrating the victory of those elected in unity,” he said referring to earlier reports that there was chaos during the election process.

The other contenders for the position, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta lost against Nandi-Ndaitwah with 270 and 91 votes, respectively.

A total of 783 delegates voted at the 7th Swapo Party Ordinary Congress which started here on Thursday.

The party results were announced by the elections Returning Officer Joshua Kaumbi, at about 13h00 on Monday, following the completion of the voting process.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency