Rundu — Incumbent Swapo Party Vice-President Dr Hage Geingob on Saturday held a political rally at Rundu to drum up support to help him retain his position in the party hierarchy.

Geingob, who stood unopposed for the VP position in 2007, called for unity in the ruling party as he urged congress delegates to vote for a leader who even after the congress will be able to further unite the nation by maintaining peace.

"In Swapo we do not fight, that is why you don't see me attacking any of my comrades. There is a deliberate misinterpretation of what is going to happen at the congress. Let me tell you, this is a Swapo internal matter that will be carried out in a peaceful and respectful way," Geingob said.

"First I am here because I am the vice-president. The president is supporting me because I am the VP, and he is just following the hierarchy by doing so. If you elected me five years ago, what went wrong?" asked Geingob.

"I worked well with him and I was loyal all the way, so why should he chase me away?"

"In Swapo when you go and elect, you will elect amongst us, all of us are equally qualified, but only one can be voted into power. Vote for a leader who after the campaign will say, let's hold hands together to maintain our unity and peace," he said.

Geingob also urged the delegates to vote for a leader who will not exclude certain races, regions and tribes, adding that it is a recipe for conflict.

He vowed to implement Swapo Party policies such as those on unemployment, industrialisation and innovation if elected.

"I hear journalists asking me whether I have policies that I will implement once elected, of course I do, I will definitely implement the Swapo Party policies."

"If any of us three wins at the congress, that person must be supported in 2014 to become our country's president," he said.

The VP's campaign team included the Minister of Veterans Affairs, Dr Nickey Iyambo, and the party's Deputy Secretary General Nangolo Mbumba.

Regional coordinators from the Khomas, Omusati and Oshikoto regions, namely Gothardt Kasuto, Erginus Endjala and Armas Amukwiyu were also part of Geingob's team.

Geingob said he still has to visit the Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, Karas and Khomas regions before the congress, which will take place from November 29 to December 2.

Geingob is seeking a second term that will automatically make him the Swapo Party's presidential candidate in 2014 if he retains the VP position.