Kahungu, Ntusi unopposed at SPWC congress

The top two leadership positions of the Swapo Party Women’s Council (SPWC) will have sole candidates at the organisation’s upcoming elective congress, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah calling for a peaceful and united process.Fransina Ndateelela Kahungu has been nominated and seconded as the sole candidate for secretary of the Women’s Council, while Maria Mukano Ntusi is the sole candidate for deputy secretary. The two are already incumbents in those positions.The nominations were confirmed during an extraordinary central committee meeting held in Kamanjab, Kunene, on 19 September.The development was announced yesterday by SPWC assistant secretary for research, information and programme Ruthy Masake during a media briefing on preparations for the council’s 9th Congress, which will be held in Katima Mulilo from 9 to 11 December.Masake said the nominations were made in accordance with the organisation’s rules, procedures and constitutional provisions.She said the sole nominations should be viewed as expressions of confidence by the council’s structures and as part of the responsibility of serving the organisation.The uncontested nominations come as Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged the women’s council to ensure that its elective congress is conducted peacefully and in a spirit of unity, discipline and decorum.During a 16 September meeting with the SPWC’s national executive committee at Swapo headquarters, Nandi-Ndaitwah warned that the manner in which the women’s congress is conducted could set the tone for subsequent Swapo Party congress processes, including the party’s own congress in 2027.The women’s council said it had taken note of the president’s guidance.Masake said the message was particularly important as the organisation heads into an elective process where members may hold different views and support different candidates.“The women’s council must be an example of how comrades can engage one another with dignity, even when they hold different views or support different candidates,” she said.“Our internal processes must never become a reason for division.”Masake said leadership positions were temporary, while the organisation and its values were enduring.The council has consequently called on members to campaign and communicate responsibly, avoid personal attacks and respect its structures and democratic processes.“Let us set the tone for peace. Let us set the tone for unity. Let us set the tone for respect,” Masake said.Kahungu’s nomination comes shortly after she sparked a national debate over Namibia’s population growth by calling on Namibians of childbearing age to have more children.She argued that a larger population could help attract investment, create a future workforce and expand the country’s economic potential.“We are too few, because it does not help us to promote, to call investors to come, but we do not have a future population to work there and also to benefit,” Kahungu said.Her remarks have since drawn differing views from political figures, youth leaders and experts, with the debate focusing on Namibia’s capacity to provide housing, healthcare, education, jobs and other services for a growing population.Meanwhile, Nandi-Ndaitwah has also urged the women’s council to play a more active role in ensuring women across the country, particularly young women, are aware of government economic empowerment programmes and funding opportunities.According to Masake, the president said it was not enough for such programmes to exist at national level if women in the regions did not know where to apply, what requirements they needed to meet or how to access them.The congress will take place in Katima Mulilo from 9 to 11 December. -desmarius@nma.com.na

Kahungu, Ntusi unopposed at SPWC congress

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-24

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Kahungu, Ntusi unopposed at SPWC congress

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-24

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