No free lunches in Swapo
The Swapo SG says there will be no room for indiscipline in the party or any special treatment.
Swapo membership is not a free lunch and members must earn their place in the party before they stand for any position.
This was the frank message delivered by Swapo secretary-general Sofia Shaningwa yesterday when she had her first meeting of the year with the party's regional coordinators in Windhoek.
She made it very clear that members will not be allowed to fall over their feet to sort out their membership and subscription fees at the last minute.
Shaningwa also announced that people must have been members of the party for ten consecutive years, if they want to stand for regional coordinator posts.
Those what are eyeing regional information and mobilisation officer, regional treasurer and district coordinator posts must have been Swapo members for five consecutive years.
Those who want to stand for election as branch office-bearers must have three consecutive years of membership, while section office-bearers must have been with the party for two years.
“You don't come from the Rally for Democracy or Progress or any other party and stand for these positions. Positions in Swapo are not for sale, but are based on loyalty,” she said.
According to Shaningwa there has been reports of some members being elected into positions of authority without meeting the requirements. She added that section leaders will be renewed in March, branch leaders in April and district leaders in May.
“All positions shall be contested through elections by secret ballot, unless the rank-and-file of that particular structure unanimously agrees only to a single candidate for a position,” she said.
Shaningwa cautioned that campaigning should only take place after candidates have been endorsed by the appropriate party organs.
She added there will be no room for indiscipline in the party or any special treatment.
“I have noticed with concern a level of indiscipline in some quarters of our party and I repeat that indiscipline shall dealt with,” she warned.
She also announced the party will launch its campaign and party manifesto for this year's general elections in August.
JEMIMA BEUKES
This was the frank message delivered by Swapo secretary-general Sofia Shaningwa yesterday when she had her first meeting of the year with the party's regional coordinators in Windhoek.
She made it very clear that members will not be allowed to fall over their feet to sort out their membership and subscription fees at the last minute.
Shaningwa also announced that people must have been members of the party for ten consecutive years, if they want to stand for regional coordinator posts.
Those what are eyeing regional information and mobilisation officer, regional treasurer and district coordinator posts must have been Swapo members for five consecutive years.
Those who want to stand for election as branch office-bearers must have three consecutive years of membership, while section office-bearers must have been with the party for two years.
“You don't come from the Rally for Democracy or Progress or any other party and stand for these positions. Positions in Swapo are not for sale, but are based on loyalty,” she said.
According to Shaningwa there has been reports of some members being elected into positions of authority without meeting the requirements. She added that section leaders will be renewed in March, branch leaders in April and district leaders in May.
“All positions shall be contested through elections by secret ballot, unless the rank-and-file of that particular structure unanimously agrees only to a single candidate for a position,” she said.
Shaningwa cautioned that campaigning should only take place after candidates have been endorsed by the appropriate party organs.
She added there will be no room for indiscipline in the party or any special treatment.
“I have noticed with concern a level of indiscipline in some quarters of our party and I repeat that indiscipline shall dealt with,” she warned.
She also announced the party will launch its campaign and party manifesto for this year's general elections in August.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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