Rundu leaders are delivering- Shaningwa

Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa has praised visible infrastructure development in Rundu, saying progress on housing and other projects shows what effective leadership can achieve.

Shaningwa made the remarks yesterday while opening a three-day Swapo leadership training programme in Rundu, where she urged local and regional leaders to take their responsibilities seriously and deliver on plans made for their communities.

The former minister of urban and rural development said she was impressed after revisiting projects in Rundu that she had encountered during her time in government.

“As a former Minister of Urban and Rural Development, I visited Rundu yesterday to see progress on projects I left behind and was impressed that housing projects once unattended are now completed,” she said.

Shaningwa also recalled visiting different areas in Rundu last year, saying she had found it covered with gravel and large heaps of sand.

“Today, when I was there, I saw that the roads are now tarred, which demonstrates our commitment to deliver ,” she said.

She used the developments to urge Swapo councillors and other leaders to continue delivering tangible results for residents.

“So when the people are doing good, when the people are informed and they know what to do, then you always deliver. I want you to always deliver. Delivering is what we owe as leaders to our people,” she added, urging councillors to look at their annual plans and ensure that projects and commitments are implemented.

While praising the progress she observed in Rundu, Shaningwa warned that failure to deliver could have serious political consequences for Swapo in the region.

“The problem will be that if we are not delivering, as we are saying the Swapo Party here in Rundu, Kavango East and Kavango West, if we are not delivering, soon the people will say no to us,” she said.

Disconnected

Shaningwa said the party could only remain in power if leaders entrusted with responsibilities performed their duties and delivered for residents.

“We can only be a ruling party going forward if those who are entrusted with their duties are taking their responsibilities very, very seriously,” she said.

She also cautioned leaders against becoming disconnected from the communities that elected them, urging them to listen when residents raise complaints.

“You are also required as leaders that you have to be able to listen to your residents when they talk, when they complain.

“Don't be just leaders. They are elected today and when you are on the seats, you forget from where you came from,” she said.

Shaningwa called on leaders to maintain an open-door policy to maintain the party’s connection with residents.

She further described leadership as a responsibility rather than a privilege.

“Leadership is not a position of privilege. It is a sacred duty that demands knowledge, skills, commitment and revolutionary vigilance,” she said.

Shaningwa said the political environment was characterised by “evolving dynamics, heightened competition and complex socio-economic realities”, requiring Swapo leaders to be strategic in their thinking and tactical in their approach.

She said leadership training was therefore more than an administrative exercise, but a strategic intervention to strengthen the party’s organisational capacity at district level.