The honeymoon is over
The winds of change are surely blowing in Swapo as the ruling party redefines itself with a view to chart a new way forward.
Following his landslide victory last week, Swapo president Hage Geingob has now strengthened his tight grip on the ruling party after overseeing the election of his loyalists to top structures, while many of those who were against his election fell by the wayside.
Geingob's loyalists were elected to both the central committee and the politburo of the ruling party.
With the Swapo electoral process now a thing of the past, Geingob will be expected to make some bold moves involving personnel changes and rhetorically laying down the gauntlet. As president of both the country and the ruling party, Geingob wields significant political authority like never before.
His influence has seemingly let to more young people getting elected on the central committee and by extension, the politburo, the highest decision-making body of the party. Youthful leaders such as Pohamba Shifeta and Lucia Ipumbu have secured senior positions within the organisation, while former youth leader Veikko Nekundi missed out by a whisker.
The appointment of 35-year-old Jennelly Matundu to the central committee also marks a new chapter in Swapo's political development as there is now a strong youth focus.
However, we need to see more young people spelling out a vision for a better Namibia, which reflects a transformed attitude. Another interesting phenomenon that deserves close inspection is that Swapo has now achieved 50/50 gender representation in all leadership structures. The top four, politburo and central committee are all balanced in terms of gender representation.
The ruling party has also opted for a zebra-style representation for the National Assembly. This too is a success story. Surely now the honeymoon is over. The new leadership has made the right kind of noise and there are now great expectations to deliver. Equally, Geingob must keep to his promise to be president for all and by being resolute and decisive.
Following his landslide victory last week, Swapo president Hage Geingob has now strengthened his tight grip on the ruling party after overseeing the election of his loyalists to top structures, while many of those who were against his election fell by the wayside.
Geingob's loyalists were elected to both the central committee and the politburo of the ruling party.
With the Swapo electoral process now a thing of the past, Geingob will be expected to make some bold moves involving personnel changes and rhetorically laying down the gauntlet. As president of both the country and the ruling party, Geingob wields significant political authority like never before.
His influence has seemingly let to more young people getting elected on the central committee and by extension, the politburo, the highest decision-making body of the party. Youthful leaders such as Pohamba Shifeta and Lucia Ipumbu have secured senior positions within the organisation, while former youth leader Veikko Nekundi missed out by a whisker.
The appointment of 35-year-old Jennelly Matundu to the central committee also marks a new chapter in Swapo's political development as there is now a strong youth focus.
However, we need to see more young people spelling out a vision for a better Namibia, which reflects a transformed attitude. Another interesting phenomenon that deserves close inspection is that Swapo has now achieved 50/50 gender representation in all leadership structures. The top four, politburo and central committee are all balanced in terms of gender representation.
The ruling party has also opted for a zebra-style representation for the National Assembly. This too is a success story. Surely now the honeymoon is over. The new leadership has made the right kind of noise and there are now great expectations to deliver. Equally, Geingob must keep to his promise to be president for all and by being resolute and decisive.
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