Party chooses Nujoma's successor

Nujoma is set to step down after 14 years in office

Namibia's governing Swapo party has chosen the man it wants to succeed President Sam Nujoma, who led the country to independence 14 years ago.

Land Minister Hifikepunye Pohamba won a ballot of party members held in the capital, Windhoek.

Mr Pohamba, President Nujoma's favoured successor, will represent Swapo in a presidential election due in November.

Mr Nujoma will continue as party leader. Observers say he may run the country even after the election.

Mr Pohamba, 68, is long-time ally of the president.

He won the nomination with 341 votes, compared to 167 for former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya.

Dismissed

Mr Hamutenya - who did not have the president's support for the bid - was sacked from the cabinet last week.

No official reason was given for the dismissal.

In his victory speech on Sunday, Mr Pohamba vowed to commit his "time and energy to the improvement of the well-being of our people".

Swapo - a former Marxist guerrilla movement - has dominated Namibian politics since the country became independent from South Africa in 1990.

In the last elections - in 1999 - the party won more than 70% of the vote and its candidate is widely expected to become the next president.