The Swapo Party's Special Central Committee held on Friday decided not to allow Jerry Ekandjo to join the race for the party's Vice President.

The Swapo Party Regional Coordinator for Kavango West, David Hamutenya, wants those vying for the top positions to engage in debates during the closed-door meetings, which are part of the intra-party campaigns.

Lawyers representing Jerry Ekandjo welcomed a decision to hold a Central Committee meeting to decide whether or not the veteran politician should be allowed to contest the Vice Presidential position at its elective congress next month.

Delegates to the Swapo Party Congress in the Omaheke Region turned up in numbers to listen to and ask questions to candidates who are vying for the top three positions.

President Hage Geingob says the presence of women in the line of leadership succession is a demonstration of the strides Namibia and the Swapo Party have made in gender equality.