Swapo set to retain its reign

WINDHOEK: Namibia’s ruling Swapo party was expected to extend its near quarter-century rule in elections today as voters and investors in the uranium and diamond producer look for stability in the face of a global commodities slump.

The former-liberation-movement-turned-governing-party has kept its widespread support at the helm of one of Africa’s healthiest economies – though dissent is growing over persistent poverty, inequality and a housing shortage.

More than 100 protesters chanted slogans calling for land distribution in the capital last week, and the resurgent opposition Democratic Turnhalle Alliance has been attracting more supporters.

But, analysts say those are unlikely to be enough to threaten Swapo’s two-third parliamentary majority.

“We want to propel Namibia to greater prosperity. We want to emancipate our people from economic hardships,” Prime Minister Hage Geingob, a Swapo stalwart, told thousands of voters in the north, as he campaigned to become the country’s third president.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba cannot stand again because of a constitutional two-term limit.

Namibia has ambitions to become the world’s second largest uranium producer after Kazakhstan with construction of its Chinese-backed Husab mine forecast to start production next year.

The country has been one of the world’s best performing economies and growth is forecast to rise to 5 percent this year from 4.4 percent last year, as construction in the mining and energy sectors underpin growth.

But, lower metal prices, especially for key export uranium, poses a risk, according to Namibia’s central bank.

Swapo has been in power since independence in 1990. – Reuters