RDP puts faith in Kavekotora

RDP puts faith in KavekotoraShekupakela elected vice-president The newly elected leader has promised that his party will adopt a new elections strategy ahead of the November vote. Mike Kavekotora is the new president of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), defeating Kandy Nehova and Mariam Hamutenya after a series of tense sessions at the party's elective convention on Sunday.

The party said a total of 625 delegates converged on the Ramatex complex in the capital to decide the RDP leadership for the next five years, with 490 delegates casting their ballots in a marathon voting session that began late on Saturday and continued until mid-morning on Sunday.

The RDP electoral commission recorded 14 spoilt ballots in the presidential election.

Kavekotora received 243 votes (51.1%), followed by former national council chairman Kandy Nehova (133) and Hamutenya (100).

Kavekotora could not contain his joy, despite acknowledging that a bigger task now lies ahead.

“I can assure you that it is going to be a very different year in Namibia's political landscape. My eyes, after going through the first hurdle, are now set on the presidency. I am going to State House [as head of state],” an upbeat Kavekotora proclaimed.

Asked how this ambitious dream will be realised, he replied: “We are going to put up a strategy. We will go to every corner of this country to demonstrate that the current ruling party has failed in the delivery of services and [fulfilling the] aspirations of the Namibian people.”

When contacted for comment, Nehova, a veteran politician, expressed full confidence in the internal electoral process.

“I think it was democratic. We all won in the end. Now we are going to seriously campaign for the National Assembly and presidential elections. I will fully support the winning candidate (Kavekotora). He is now our president and I hope he will lead us to achieve victory,” Nehova said.

Hamutenya could not be reached for comment.

The party's vice-president election saw Kavekotora's running mate, Kennedy Shekupakela, emerge victorious.

Shekupakela did not win with an outright majority and the prospect of a rerun was on the cards until Heiko Lucks, one of the contenders for the position, withdrew.

Shekupakela received 231 votes, followed by Lucks with 137 and Tjinezuma Kavari with 76, while Eino Heelu garnered 32 votes.

This meant that none of the candidates attained the required majority to be installed, as per the RDP constitution.

It was at this point that Lucks stepped aside, giving his votes to Shekupakela, which took the latter's tally to 368.

The results of the secretary-general, deputy SG and central committee elections were expected yesterday.



NAMPA