Windhoek — The Congress of Democrats (CoD) will go into the final round of its leadership battle tomorrow with the start of its extraordinary congress at the Geiters Conference Centre outside Windhoek.

The official opposition party has been in turmoil since its last extraordinary congress in Keetmanshoop in May last year, where some party members walked out of the congress and the party has been beset with an exodus of party members, court battles and mudslinging in the media.

The extraordinary congress, which is a High Court order, is set to elect a new leadership for the party and all the positions are open for contest. The position of president, vice president, national chairperson, secretary general, deputy secretary general, treasurer and deputy treasurer will all be contested.

The CoD is also set to elect a new national executive committee (NEC) and national working committee (NWC). As widely expected, CoD president Ben Ulenga will go against his number Nora Schimming-Chase for the position of president.

Party insiders claim that although there is great rivalry between the leaders over the past years, the contest will not be very close and the incumbent Ulenga is a favourite to retain the presidency.

The insider claims that Ulenga still enjoys huge support from the Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto and Caprivi regions. The source added even the Kavango Region, which traditionally did not support Ulenga in favour of former secretary general Ignatius Shixwameni, who has since left the party, is now backing Ulenga.

Schimming-Chase is said to be enjoying support from the Khomas, Hardap, Karas, Omaheke and pockets of Otjozondjupa and Erongo regions.

The source added that it is common knowledge now that Ulenga and Schimming-Chase cannot work together and none of the two will settle for the position of vice president.

The position of secretary general will also be contested fiercely as four party stalwarts have been nominated for this position. Current deputy secretary general Rosa Namises, Jefta Tjozongoro, Tsudao Gurirab and City of Windhoek councillor, Herbert Schultz, will contest for the position.

It is believed that if Gurirab decides to run for the position he will be the favourite to get the position, while Tjozongoro, who is currently organising the extraordinary congress, is viewed as the dark horse in the race. The treasurer general position will be contested between two lawmakers Elna Dienda and Kaveri Kavari. The latter was elected into the position in 2004 but resigned from the position before returning again to active politics.

Although the extraordinary congress is only expected to elect the new leadership, some party leaders are demanding that the financial statements of the party should be tabled at the congress.

It is not yet known who will be the chairperson of the electoral commission for the congress, but the candidate will be provided by the law society.

To avoid a walkout at the congress, it has been decided that the elections will start from the bottom to the top and the president will be the last person to be elected. Registration for the congress starts tomorrow and the congress is expected to end on Saturday afternoon.