Clash Between Swapo and PDM Leaders Over Age of Election Candidates

A verbal confrontation has erupted between Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa and Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani concerning the nomination of older candidates for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. During a political rally in Okalongo on Saturday, Venaani urged Namibians not to support “pensioners” in the November election. He seemed to be referring to Swapo candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (71) and Independent Patriots for Change leader Panduleni Itula (66). Venaani emphasized that Namibia’s predominantly youthful population (comprising 71%) should vote for younger leaders, citing Senegal’s recent election of 44-year-old Bassirou Faye as president as an example.