Namibian Ruling Party Elects Geingob as Leader Before 2019 Vote

WINDHOEK (Capital Markets in Africa) – Namibian President Hage Geingob was elected leader of the southwestern African nation’s ruling party, positioning him to seek a second term in 2019 elections.

The South West African People’s Organization also elected Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as vice president at its congress that ended Monday, the state-owned Namibia Broadcasting Corp. said on Twitter.

The Swapo party has been in power since 1990 when the country, which also borders Angola, Zambia and Botswana, gained independence from South Africa. Geingob, the nation’s third president, was already acting head of the organization.

Namibia is the world’s biggest source of offshore diamonds, most of which are mined by Namdeb Diamond Corp., a joint venture between the government and Anglo American Plc unit De Beers, the world’s largest diamond company.