SWAPO
The South West Africa People's Organisation (/ˈswɑːpoʊ/, SWAPO; Afrikaans: Suidwes-Afrikaanse Volks Organisasie, SWAVO; German: Südwestafrikanische Volksorganisation, SWAVO), officially known as the SWAPO Party of Namibia, is a political party and former independence movement in Namibia. Founded in 1960, it has been the governing party in Namibia since the country achieved independence in 1990. The party continues to be dominated in number and influence by the Ovambo ethnic group.
SWAPO Party of Namibia | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | SWAPO |
| President | Hage Geingob |
| Vice President | Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah |
| Secretary-General | Sophia Shaningwa |
| Vice Secretary-General | Nangolo Mbumba |
| Executive Director | Austin Samupwa |
| Founders | Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Sam Nujoma Jacob Kuhangua Louis Nelengani Lucas Nepela |
| Founded | 19 April 1960 |
| Preceded by | Ovamboland People's Organization |
| Headquarters | Erf 2464 Hans-Dietrich Genscher Street Katutura Windhoek Khomas Region |
| Newspaper | Namibia Today (1960-2015) |
| Think tank | SWAPO Think Tank |
| Youth wing | SWAPO Party Youth League |
| Women's wing | SWAPO Women's Council |
| Elder's wing | SWAPO Elder's Council |
| Paramilitary wing | People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) (integrated into Namibian Defence Force) |
| Ideology | Since 2017: Socialism with Namibian characteristics[1][2][3] 1990–2017 Social democracy[4][5] Statism[6] 1960–1990 Socialism[4] Marxism–Leninism[7] |
| Political position | Centre-left to left-wing |
| International affiliation | Socialist International |
| African affiliation | Former Liberation Movements of Southern Africa |
| Seats in the National Assembly | 63 / 96 |
| Seats in the National Council | 28 / 42 |
| Regional Councillors | 88 / 121 |
| Local Councillors | 277 / 378 |
| Pan-African Parliament | 4 / 5 |
| Party flag | |
| Website | |
| www | |
SWAPO held a two-thirds majority in parliament from 1994 to 2019. In the general election held in November 2019, the party won 65.5% of the popular vote and 63 out of the 104 seats in the National Assembly. It also holds 28 out of the 42 seats in the National Council. As of November 2017, Namibian President Hage Geingob has been the president of SWAPO after being elected to the position at the party's electoral congress.[8]
History Edit
Background and foundation Edit
German South West Africa was established in 1884. After World War I, the League of Nations gave South West Africa, formerly a German colony, to the United Kingdom as a mandate under the administration of South Africa.[9] When the National Party won the 1948 election in South Africa and subsequently introduced apartheid legislation,[10] these laws were applied as well to South West Africa. It was considered the de facto fifth province of South Africa.[11]
SWAPO was founded on 19 April 1960 as the successor of the Ovamboland People's Organization. Leaders renamed the party to show that it represented all Namibians. But, the organisation had its base among the Ovambo people of northern Namibia, who constituted nearly half the total population.[12]
Struggle for independence Edit
During 1962, SWAPO had emerged as the dominant nationalist organisation for the Namibian people. It co-opted other groups such as the South West Africa National Union (SWANU), and later in 1976 the Namibia African People's Democratic Organisation.[13] SWAPO used guerrilla tactics to fight the South African Defence Force. On 26 August 1966, the first major clash of the conflict took place, when a unit of the South African Police, supported by the South African Air Force, exchanged fire with SWAPO forces. This date is generally regarded as the start of what became known in South Africa as the Border War.
One important factor in the fight for independence was the 1971-72 Namibian contract workers strike, which fought for the elimination of the contract labor system and independence from South Africa. An underlying goal was the promotion of independence under SWAPO leadership.[14][15]
In 1972, the United Nations General Assembly recognised SWAPO as the 'sole legitimate representative' of Namibia's people.[16] The Norwegian government began giving aid directly to SWAPO in 1974.[17]
The country of Angola gained its independence on 11 November 1975 following its war for independence. The leftist Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), supported by Cuba and the Soviet Union, came to power. In March 1976, the MPLA offered SWAPO bases in Angola for launching attacks against the South African military.
Independent Namibia Edit
When Namibia gained its independence in 1990, SWAPO became the dominant political party. Though the organisation rejected the term South West Africa and preferred to use Namibia, the organisation's original name—derived from the territory's old name—was too deeply rooted in the independence movement to be changed. However, the original full name is no longer used; only the acronym remains.[12] SWAPO, and with it much of Namibia's government and administration, continues to be dominated by the Ovambo ethnic group, despite "considerable efforts to counter [that] perception".[18]
SWAPO president Sam Nujoma was declared Namibia's first President after SWAPO won the inaugural election in 1989. A decade later, Nujoma had the constitution changed so he could run for a third term in 1999, as it limits the presidency to two terms.
In 2004, the SWAPO presidential candidate was Hifikepunye Pohamba, described as Nujoma's hand-picked successor.[19][20] In 2014, the SWAPO presidential candidate was Hage Geingob, who was the vice-president of SWAPO. In 2019 presidential election, president Geingob won his second five-year term as Namibian president.[21]
Ideology Edit
SWAPO was founded with the aim of attaining the independence of Namibia and therefore is part of the African nationalist movement. Pre-independence it harboured a socialist,[4] Marxist–Leninist[7] ideology, a thinking that was not immediately abandoned when independence was achieved in 1990 and SWAPO became the ruling party.[22] Officially, however, it adopted a social democratic ideology, until the electoral congress in 2017 approved the official change to socialism with a "Namibian character",[3] although some Namibians have labeled the change as lacking a "grass-roots [socialist]" nature.[23]
Various commentators have characterised the politics of SWAPO in different ways. Gerhard Tötemeyer, himself a party member, considers its post-independence politics neoliberal and social democratic.[4] Henny Seibeb, an opposition politician from the Landless People's Movement, describes the current party ideology as liberal nationalism with traces of "dogmatism, authoritarianism, and statism".[24]
Structure Edit
The party president is the top position of SWAPO; in 2012 this was held by Namibia's former president Pohamba. The vice-president is Namibia's current president Hage Geingob, who was elected to that position in 2007 and reconfirmed at the SWAPO congress in December 2012. The third highest position in SWAPO is the secretary-general, a position held in December 2012 by Nangolo Mbumba. Number four is the deputy secretary-general, Omaheke governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua.[25]
Like many socialist and communist parties, SWAPO is governed by a politburo and a central committee. The party leadership is advised by a youth league, a women's council, and an elders' council.
Politburo Edit
The politburo of SWAPO is a body that currently[update] consists of:[26]
- The party president: Hage Geingob
- The former party president: Hifikepunye Pohamba
- The secretary-general: Sophia Shaningwa
- The deputy secretary-general: Marco Hausiku
- 2 members appointed by the party president
- 18 members elected by the SWAPO central committee:[27]
- Nangolo Mbumba
- Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
- Laura McLeod-Katjirua
- Pohamba Shifeta
- Peter Katjavivi
- Doreen Sioka
- Katrina Hanse-Himarwa
- Margaret Mensah-Williams
- Sirkka Ausiku
- Lucia Witbooi
- Hilma Nikanor
- Bernard Esau
- Alpheus ǃNaruseb
- Calle Schlettwein
- John Mutorwa
- Albert Kawana
- Lucia Iipumbu
- Tobie Aupindi
Central Committee Edit
SWAPO's Central Committee consists of:
- The president
- The vice-president
- The secretary-general
- The deputy secretary-general
- The founding president of SWAPO as a permanent member
- 13 SWAPO Party regional coordinators
- 54 members elected at the party congress
- 10 members appointed by the party president
The current[update] members are:[28][29]
- Hage Geingob (ex officio, SWAPO President)
- Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (ex officio, SWAPO Vice-president)
- Sophia Shaningwa (ex officio, SWAPO Secretary-General)
- Marco Hausiku (ex officio, SWAPO Deputy Secretary-General)
- Sam Nujoma (ex officio SWAPO founding President)
- Hifikepunye Pohamba (ex officio SWAPO former president)
Elected members:
- Nahas Angula
- Abraham Iyambo
- Ben Amathila
- Marco Hausiku
- Nickey Iyambo
- Jerry Ekandjo
- John Mutorwa
- Utoni Nujoma
- Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
- Theo-Ben Gurirab
- Libertine Amathila
- Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
- Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana
- Bernard Esau
- Pohamba Shifeta
- Richard Kamwi
- Petrus Iilonga
- Joel Kaapanda
- Albert Kawana
- David Namwandi
- Isak Katali
- Katrina Hanse-Himarwa
- Erkki Nghimtina
- Tjekero Tweya
- Erastus Uutoni
- Samuel Ankama
- Margaret Mensah-Williams
- Mandume Pohamba
- Doreen Sioka
- Kazenambo Kazenambo
- Helmut Angula
- Peya Mushelenga
- Loide Kasingo
- Alpheus ǃNaruseb
- Peter Katjavivi
- Leon Jooste
- Asser Kapere
- Charles Namoloh
- Lempy Lucas
- Veikko Nekundi
- Hilma Nikanor
- Lucia Witbooi
- Penda Ya Ndakolo
- Usko Nghaamwa
- Immanuel Ngatjizeko
- Eunice Iipinge
- Elia Kaiyamo
- Moses Amweelo
- Sophia Shaningwa
- Samuel Nuuyoma
- Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun
- Rosalia Nghidinwa
- Clemens Kashuupulwa
- Henock Ya Kasita
- Uahekua Herunga
- Willem Konjore
President-appointed members (2017):[26]
- Calle Schlettwein
- Erkki Nghimtina
- Penda Ya Ndokolo
- Christina Hoebes
- Jennely Matundu
- Collien van Wyk
List of presidents Edit
- Sam Nujoma (1960–2007)
- Hifikepunye Pohamba (2007–2015)
- Hage Geingob (2015–present)
Finances and business interests Edit
Although SWAPO receives finances from government for its operations, the party also holds extensive business interests. Through Kalahari Holdings, it entered into joint ventures with several companies, most prominently the Namibian branch of MultiChoice, a private satellite TV provider, of which it owns 51%. Kalahari Holdings has further joint ventures with Radio Energy, Africa Online, and businesses in the tourism, farming, security services and health insurance sectors. It owns Namib Contract Haulage, Namprint, Kudu Investments and the Ndilimani Cultural Troupe.[30][31]
Namibia Today was the mouthpiece of the SWAPO,[32] and Asser Ntinda was its editor. The paper does not appear to have been active since 7 April 2011[33] and closed down in 2015.[34]
Human rights abuses Edit
Various groups have claimed that SWAPO committed serious human rights abuses against suspected spies during the independence struggle. Since the early 21st century, they have pressed the government more strongly on this issue. Breaking the Wall of Silence (BWS) is one of the groups founded by people who were detained by SWAPO during the war and abused during interrogations.[35][36] In 2004, BWS alleged that "In exile, hundreds of SWAPO dependants and members were detained, tortured and killed without trial."[37] SWAPO denies serious infractions and claims anything that did happen was in the name of liberation. Because of a series of successful South African raids, the SWAPO leadership believed that spies existed in the movement. Hundreds of SWAPO cadres were imprisoned, tortured and interrogated.[38]
In 2005, the P.E.A.C.E. Centre (People's Education, Assistance and Counselling for Empowerment) conducted an extensive study on the lives of Namibian ex-fighters and their families fifteen years after Independence. Their published ebook investigates the post-independence lives of those who fought on both sides of the Namibian War of Independence. Data from this research indicate that ex-fighters still[update] exhibit symptoms of long-term post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The findings indicate there is a correlation between the life circumstances of ex-fighters and their lack of resilience to traumatic war experiences. Resiliency has been linked to a number of protective factors, such as the socio-economic situation of the survivors, their socio-political environment, their social support networks, and their cognitive processes.[39]
The study says that, in the case of Namibian ex-fighters, long-term psychological distress is different from a simple PTSD diagnosis. The survivors have almost invariably gone for nearly two decades without seeking treatment, adding to their burdens. During this time, the ex-fighters have been exposed to additional social and psychological stressors through life events. For a person without PTSD, such stressors may have fleeting effects, but for a sufferer of long-term psychological distress, each life incident could reduce the survivor's resilience to trauma, as well as triggering "flashbacks" to events during the war.[39]
Memberships Edit
SWAPO is a full member of Socialist International.[40] It was a member of the Non-Aligned Movement before the independence of Namibia in 1990.[41]
Electoral history Edit
Presidential elections Edit
| Election | Party candidate | Votes | % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Sam Nujoma | 370,452 | 76.34% | Elected |
| 1999 | 414,096 | 76.82% | Elected | |
| 2004 | Hifikepunye Pohamba | 625,605 | 76.45% | Elected |
| 2009 | 611,241 | 75.25% | Elected | |
| 2014 | Hage Geingob | 772,528 | 86.73% | Elected |
| 2019 | 464,703 | 56.3% | Elected |
National Assembly elections Edit
| Election | Party leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Sam Nujoma | 384,567 | 57.33% | 41 / 72 | 41 | 1st | Majority government |
| 1994 | 370,452 | 76.34% | 53 / 72 | 12 | 1st | Supermajority government | |
| 1999 | 414,096 | 76.82% | 55 / 78 | 2 | 1st | Supermajority government | |
| 2004 | 625,605 | 76.44% | 55 / 78 | 1st | Supermajority government | ||
| 2009 | Hifikepunye Pohamba | 611,241 | 75.25% | 54 / 72 | 1 | 1st | Supermajority government |
| 2014 | 785,671 | 86.73% | 77 / 96 | 23 | 1st | Supermajority government | |
| 2019 | Hage Geingob | 536,861 | 65.45% | 63 / 96 | 14 | 1st | Majority government |
National Council elections Edit
| Election | Seats | +/– | Position | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 19 / 26 | 19 | 1st | Supermajority |
| 1998 | 21 / 26 | 2 | 1st | Supermajority |
| 2004 | 24 / 26 | 3 | 1st | Supermajority |
| 2010 | 24 / 26 | 1st | Supermajority | |
| 2015 | 40 / 42 | 16 | 1st | Supermajority |
| 2020 | 28 / 42 | 12 | 1st | Supermajority |
See also Edit
References Edit
- ^ "Socialism with Namibian characteristics". Namibian Sun. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ "Will Swapo's Socialism Come to 'Mixed Economy' Namibia?". The Namibian. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ a b Iileka, Sakeus (9 November 2017). "Politburo approves sweeping changes". The Namibian. p. 1. from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d Tötemeyer, Gerhard (December 2007). "The Management of a Dominant Political Party system with particular reference to Namibia" (PDF). Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. p. 3. (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Dauth, Timothy (17 January 1995). "From Liberation Organisations to Ruling Parties: The ANC and SWAPO in Transition". NamNet Digest, Vol. 95, no. 3. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ Seibeb, Henny (12 May 2017). "Social Movements, Party Politics And Democracy In Namibia". The Namibian. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ a b Soiri, Iina (May 1996). The Radical Motherhood: Namibian Women's Independence Struggle. ISBN 9789171063809. Retrieved 20 November 2019 – via Google Books.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ "Namibia's President Geingob elected leader of ruling SWAPO party". Africanews. n.d.
- ^ Eerikäinen, Marjo (14 July 2008). . Vantaa. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
- ^ "Formation of the South African Republic". South Africa History Online. from the original on 16 August 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
- ^ . Electoral Institute for the Sustainability of Democracy in Africa. August 2009. Archived from the original on 20 April 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
- ^ a b Matundu-Tjiparuro, Kae (19 April 2010). "The founder of Swapo". New Era.
- ^ Katjavivi, Peter H. (1988). A History of Resistance in Namibia. p. 99. ISBN 0-86543-144-2 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Ovambo migrant workers general strike for rights, Namibia, 1971-72 | Global Nonviolent Action Database". nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ Rogers, Barbara (1972). "Namibia's General Strike". Africa Today. 19 (2): 3–8. ISSN 0001-9887. JSTOR 4185227.
- ^ "Country Profiles – Timeline: Namibia". BBC News. from the original on 12 January 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- ^ Eriksen, Tore Linné. Norway and National Liberation in Southern Africa. p. 90.
- ^ Düsing, Sandra (2002). Traditional Leadership and Democratisation in Southern Africa: A Comparative Study of Botswana, Namibia, and Southern Africa. Studien zur Politikwissenschaft. LIT Verlag Münster. pp. 125–126. ISBN 9783825850654. from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ "NAMIBIA: Election expected to be low-key". IRIN. 2004. from the original on 23 November 2006. Retrieved 9 November 2007.
- ^ "Elections in Namibia". from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
- ^ "Namibia election: president wins second term despite scandal and recession". The Guardian. 1 December 2019.
- ^ Dauth, Timothy (17 January 1995). "From Liberation Organisations to Ruling Parties: The ANC and SWAPO in Transition". NamNet Digest, Vol. 95, no. 3. from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ Aluteni, D. (7 December 2018). "Swapo, what is 'Socialism with a Namibian Character'?". The Namibian.
- ^ Seibeb, Henny (12 May 2017). "Social Movements, Party Politics And Democracy In Namibia". The Namibian. from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ Immanuel, Shinovene; Shipanga, Selma (3 December 2012). "Moderates prevail". The Namibian. from the original on 7 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ a b Nakale, Albertina (4 December 2017). "Swapo elects new politburo". New Era. p. 1.
- ^ . The Namibian. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012.
- ^ Poolman, Jan. "New blood in Swapo CC". The Namibian. from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012. The offline version of the article contains the list of elected CC members.
- ^ "Matter of Fact". The Namibian. 4 December 2012. This erratum was only published offline.
- ^ Immanuel, Shinovene (29 November 2017). "Govt is Swapo's cash cow". The Namibian. p. 1. from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ Tyson, Robin (January 2008). "The South African media's (re) colonisation of Namibia". Global Media Journal: African Edition. 2 (1): 66–79. doi:10.5789/2-1-35.
- ^ . The Namibian. 18 February 2003. Archived from the original on 31 July 2003.
- ^ "Namibia Today Archive". SWAPOParty.org/. from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^ Immanuel, Shinovene (26 February 2019). "Swapo ousts newspaper editor". The Namibian. p. 1.
- ^ , The Namibian, 18 November 2003
- ^ , The Namibian, 4 October 2005
- ^ Gewald, Jan-Bart (September 2004). "Who Killed Clemens Kapuuo?" (PDF). Journal of Southern African Studies. 30 (3): 559–576. doi:10.1080/0305707042000254100. hdl:1887/4851. ISSN 0305-7070. S2CID 146448312. (PDF) from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
- ^ Leys, C.; Brown, S. (2005). Histories of Namibia. London: Merlin Press. ISBN 0-85036-499-X.
- ^ a b LeBeau, Debie (September 2005). (PDF). People's Education, Assistance and Counselling for Empowerment (P.E.A.C.E.). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
- ^ "List of Socialist International parties in Africa". Socialist International. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013.
- ^ "SWAPO Party of Namibia | History & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
External links Edit
- Hoog, Tycho van der (2022). "A New Chapter in Namibian History: Reflections on Archival Research". History in Africa. – An explainer of existing archives on SWAPO.
- Website of SWAPO
- Website of the SWAPO Youth League 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- Reprint of "Namibian Voters Deny Total Power to SWAPO" by Michael Johns, The Wall Street Journal, 19 November 1989.