Swapo wants radical change after election scare
NNN urges party leaders to prioritise service delivery
The president-elect has warned civil servants that it will not be business as usual when she assumes the highest office in the land.
President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on Swapo Party members to work together for the good of the country after the final results from last week’s election confirmed that the ruling party was just three seats away from losing its majority for the first time in the National Assembly.
This week's results marked Swapo’s worst showing since assuming control of government in 1990, a situation that has prompted Nandi-Ndaitwah to call for a radical shift to tackle the numerous socio-economic challenges plaguing Namibians.
The party has lost 26 National Assembly seats between 2014 and 2024.
Voters, disgruntled over high unemployment rates, poverty and high crime rates, slashed support for the former liberation movement in the parliamentary vote.
“We are not happy losing so many seats, but it is the decision of the people,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said at a press conference in Windhoek yesterday.
The time is now
In a packed hall at the Gateway Centre, party members donning their blue, red and white regalia chanted and sang party songs as Nandi-Ndaitwah delivered her prepared speech, in which she warned party members that “from now on it will not be business as usual”.
She added: “We must have a radical shift in addressing the plight of our people, especially the downtrodden and vulnerable communities. The time is now to address all challenges without fear or favour.
“Those who will be working in the public service, regardless of your political affiliation, the Swapo election manifesto is the key we got from the people. If you do something differently, we have learned in international relations that you should not serve a government if you do not want to; you should go and look for another mandate.”
While acknowledging that her election to lead the country has broken the glass ceiling for Namibian women, she underscored: “I was not elected because I am a woman.
“While recognising that I am making the door bigger for women to follow, it must be clear that [I] was elected due to the qualities and capabilities to lead the country. As a women activist, we do not want to be wheelbarrowed – we must prove ourselves and I am sure we have proved ourselves, hence the number of women in leadership positions has increased over the years.”
Confidence boost
Asked what she will do to turn the political fortunes of the party around, Nandi-Ndaitwah said she has engaged different communities around the country in order to assess and address their needs.
“We will increase the confidence of the Namibian people in the Swapo Party,” she said, adding that her presidency will be one characterised by integrity, pragmatism, accountability, meritocracy and inclusivity.
“People must follow the leader. If the leader believes in a vision, yours cannot be different, otherwise we will not succeed.”
She urged Namibians “to take our institutions and our country to heart; where there are shortfalls, we must find the best way to address them".
She said after the elections, "we must now make sure that what we promised our people is fulfilled".
Nandi-Ndaitwah added: “We were not the only players in the elections, therefore, on behalf of the Swapo Party, I commend all party leaders and stakeholders – they made our democracy work. Together we must continue to ensure a peaceful process as we did prior to elections, so that our focus can be the interest of our people."
She assured Namibians that “their confidence in Swapo and myself shall not be in vain because we know the challenges facing our people.
“You [voters] have put your future in the capable hands of Swapo as an agent of socio-economic development. The past three years we went to all 14 regions and listened to the communities and fully understood the urgent need to improve in areas such as agriculture, health, education and land reform,” she added.
This week's results marked Swapo’s worst showing since assuming control of government in 1990, a situation that has prompted Nandi-Ndaitwah to call for a radical shift to tackle the numerous socio-economic challenges plaguing Namibians.
The party has lost 26 National Assembly seats between 2014 and 2024.
Voters, disgruntled over high unemployment rates, poverty and high crime rates, slashed support for the former liberation movement in the parliamentary vote.
“We are not happy losing so many seats, but it is the decision of the people,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said at a press conference in Windhoek yesterday.
The time is now
In a packed hall at the Gateway Centre, party members donning their blue, red and white regalia chanted and sang party songs as Nandi-Ndaitwah delivered her prepared speech, in which she warned party members that “from now on it will not be business as usual”.
She added: “We must have a radical shift in addressing the plight of our people, especially the downtrodden and vulnerable communities. The time is now to address all challenges without fear or favour.
“Those who will be working in the public service, regardless of your political affiliation, the Swapo election manifesto is the key we got from the people. If you do something differently, we have learned in international relations that you should not serve a government if you do not want to; you should go and look for another mandate.”
While acknowledging that her election to lead the country has broken the glass ceiling for Namibian women, she underscored: “I was not elected because I am a woman.
“While recognising that I am making the door bigger for women to follow, it must be clear that [I] was elected due to the qualities and capabilities to lead the country. As a women activist, we do not want to be wheelbarrowed – we must prove ourselves and I am sure we have proved ourselves, hence the number of women in leadership positions has increased over the years.”
Confidence boost
Asked what she will do to turn the political fortunes of the party around, Nandi-Ndaitwah said she has engaged different communities around the country in order to assess and address their needs.
“We will increase the confidence of the Namibian people in the Swapo Party,” she said, adding that her presidency will be one characterised by integrity, pragmatism, accountability, meritocracy and inclusivity.
“People must follow the leader. If the leader believes in a vision, yours cannot be different, otherwise we will not succeed.”
She urged Namibians “to take our institutions and our country to heart; where there are shortfalls, we must find the best way to address them".
She said after the elections, "we must now make sure that what we promised our people is fulfilled".
Nandi-Ndaitwah added: “We were not the only players in the elections, therefore, on behalf of the Swapo Party, I commend all party leaders and stakeholders – they made our democracy work. Together we must continue to ensure a peaceful process as we did prior to elections, so that our focus can be the interest of our people."
She assured Namibians that “their confidence in Swapo and myself shall not be in vain because we know the challenges facing our people.
“You [voters] have put your future in the capable hands of Swapo as an agent of socio-economic development. The past three years we went to all 14 regions and listened to the communities and fully understood the urgent need to improve in areas such as agriculture, health, education and land reform,” she added.
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