SPEC congress under way
The sixth ordinary congress of the Swapo Party Elders' Council is under way at Outapi in the Omusati Region.
The Swapo Party Elders' Council's (SPEC) sixth ordinary congress has started, where a new leadership is expected to be elected.
The congress started yesterday and ends on Sunday.
According to SPEC secretary Mukwaita Shanyengana more than 500 delegates are at Outapi in the Omusati Region where the congress is taking place.
The official opening is scheduled to take place this morning. It will be addressed by Swapo Party secretary-general Nangolo Mbumba, while President Hage Geingob is expected to be the keynote speaker at the official closing on Sunday.
The congress will elect a new SPEC secretary and deputy secretary. The congress will also elect the 25 members who will form part of the SPEC central committee.
The central committee consists of 45 members - 14 regional secretaries, four members appointed by the secretary, and the SPEC secretary and deputy secretary.
At the congress, SPEC representatives to the Swapo Party congress will also be chosen. Shanyengana could say how many would be selected as that would depend on the outcome of the congress.
According to Shanyengana, the mandate of SPEC, which he described as a “special task”, is to advise the party, the government, the youth, the community and the entire nation on a number of issues.
“We discuss issues where we make resolutions which we can send directly to the office of the president or to the party,” Shanyengana explained.
Shanyengana added that his journey as secretary was a good one due to the good communication between his comrades.
“The journey was good as we are mature and experienced comrades so it was easy to communicate and understand one another and solve issues amicably,” Shanyengana said.
Regarding the conflicts between the youth and the party leaders, Shanyengana said they had talked to both parties on several occasions to address the issue but they understood the different backgrounds and stances.
“We talked to the youth, we talked to the group several times and we understand them as they come from a different background. A young person's brain is always boiling as they do not have the experience their elders might have, which can lead to misunderstandings,” Shanyengana said.
When asked about likely candidates for the top positions, Shanyengana said that would only be known once the election started.
Asked whether he was willing to stand for re-election, he said he was able and willing to serve another term.
Mary Masule is the current deputy secretary.
KENYA KAMBOWE
The congress started yesterday and ends on Sunday.
According to SPEC secretary Mukwaita Shanyengana more than 500 delegates are at Outapi in the Omusati Region where the congress is taking place.
The official opening is scheduled to take place this morning. It will be addressed by Swapo Party secretary-general Nangolo Mbumba, while President Hage Geingob is expected to be the keynote speaker at the official closing on Sunday.
The congress will elect a new SPEC secretary and deputy secretary. The congress will also elect the 25 members who will form part of the SPEC central committee.
The central committee consists of 45 members - 14 regional secretaries, four members appointed by the secretary, and the SPEC secretary and deputy secretary.
At the congress, SPEC representatives to the Swapo Party congress will also be chosen. Shanyengana could say how many would be selected as that would depend on the outcome of the congress.
According to Shanyengana, the mandate of SPEC, which he described as a “special task”, is to advise the party, the government, the youth, the community and the entire nation on a number of issues.
“We discuss issues where we make resolutions which we can send directly to the office of the president or to the party,” Shanyengana explained.
Shanyengana added that his journey as secretary was a good one due to the good communication between his comrades.
“The journey was good as we are mature and experienced comrades so it was easy to communicate and understand one another and solve issues amicably,” Shanyengana said.
Regarding the conflicts between the youth and the party leaders, Shanyengana said they had talked to both parties on several occasions to address the issue but they understood the different backgrounds and stances.
“We talked to the youth, we talked to the group several times and we understand them as they come from a different background. A young person's brain is always boiling as they do not have the experience their elders might have, which can lead to misunderstandings,” Shanyengana said.
When asked about likely candidates for the top positions, Shanyengana said that would only be known once the election started.
Asked whether he was willing to stand for re-election, he said he was able and willing to serve another term.
Mary Masule is the current deputy secretary.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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