Swapo's moment of truth

FESTUS NAKATANA Despite weeks of bickering over leadership matters, Swapo members yesterday attempted to put up a show of unity by embracing each other as the ruling party kicked off its long-awaited elective congress. Clad in the traditional blue-red-and-green Swapo attire, the comrades exchanged hugs and shared jokes after a gruelling campaign marked by rampant factionalism. There was thunderous applause when acting party president Hage Geingob and his predecessors, Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba, entered the main hall for the opening session, which was directed by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. In a stern tone, Geingob reminded delegates that the ruling party was not a personality cult and an exclusive club to be used as a springboard to quick riches. “It is not a shortcut to personal wealth and power. Swapo is a movement of the people. It is bigger than any individual, and when the day comes when we are no longer here, Swapo will remain standing. “The exercise of internal party democracy is a strength, not a weakness, and we should never allow our stable succession practices and our democratic nature to become a weakness,” he said. Geingob, who is vying against Nahas Angula and Jerry Ekandjo for the party presidency, called on delegates to accept the outcome of the elective congress. “Let us adhere to the Swapo rules and principles during these elections. Let us play the ball and not the player,” said Geingob. “Furthermore, in the spirit of the Swapo Party unity, once the contest is over and the winners have been announced, let us all rally behind the victors; because it is not personalities that matter, it is principles that matter.” The head of state, who boasted about the government's achievements over the past 27 years, said Swapo was as strong as ever. “There are those who claim that Swapo has changed and it is no longer the party they used to know. For those I have the following to say: Swapo has not changed. The world has changed and in order not to be left behind, we have to change with the times, while retaining our core values. Swapo remains true to the pursuit of its fundamental ideals for social justice and liberty, in all its forms. Swapo is here to stay, and it is here to stay for a very long time,” said Geingob. Geingob is campaigning under the banner of Team Harambee and his slate includes deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is vying for the Swapo vice-presidency, as well as urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa (secretary-general candidate) and the acting rector of the Swapo Party School, Marco Hausiku, who is a candidate for the deputy secretary-general position. The four are competing against the self-styled Team Swapo made up of Angula, Ekandjo as well as vice-presidency candidates Helmut Angula and home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana. The youthful Oshikoto regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu is a candidate for the secretary-general position, while businesswoman Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun and former health deputy minister Petrina Haingura are the other deputy secretary-general candidates. Expectations The gathering will elect the top leadership of the party as well as a new central committee. The congress will also discuss proposed constitutional amendments and review implementation of resolutions taken at the fifth Swapo congress in 2012. The party will also discuss and adopt new resolutions. Gert Titus, a delegate from the //Karas Region, said he was hoping to see an increased commitment on the part of national leaders in developing rural areas. “Housing in the rural areas is in particular a very big concern to me. The living conditions in many rural areas are very bad and many people live in poorly made shacks. “I really think it is time for opportunities to be levelled out. Why must someone in town drive a car that is worth five houses in a village?” he asked. “We need to fight poverty in the real sense of the word. Many leaders still believe they have done something major when they hand out food to poor people. “We need to move away from that. There is an urgent need to invest in sustainable and long-term poverty eradication policies. Especially in my region factories need to be set up, a trade zone must be established and jobs will be created.” Elections The electoral process of the congress will only start on Sunday morning, with lawyer Sisa Namandje to preside over the voting. Delegates will first vote for the top four positions - the party president, vice-president, secretary-general and deputy secretary-general - before electing a new central committee. Members who are part of the current central committee automatically qualify to contest the 56 positions, if interested, and will compete against 56 regional delegates. -Additional reporting by Jemima Beukes

Swapo's moment of truth

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

Please login to leave a comment

Swapo's moment of truth

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

Please login to leave a comment

Login