Swapo dreams of regaining two-thirds majority
Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa says the party wants to reclaim its two-thirds majority in the upcoming elections, a position it lost following the 2019 presidential election.
Swapo’s votes in the 2019 general election dropped to 65%, down from 80% garnered in 2014. Its candidate, late president Hage Geingob, received 56.3% of the votes, a significant drop from the 87% he received in 2014.
The ruling party's support plummeted from 83% in the 2015 regional elections to 57% in 2020, and from 74% in the 2015 local authority elections to 40% in 2020.
Swapo held a majority in 52 out of the 57 local authorities in 2015; however, the 2020 elections saw the party lose its majority in 33 local authorities, with the most significant losses occurring in the central and southern areas. Opposition parties gained ground during the 2019 and 2020 elections, challenging Swapo's longstanding electoral dominance.
Register to vote
Speaking at an election rally in Rundu last week, Shaningwa encouraged party members to register to vote when the registration period officially starts.
“Registration [plays] a critical role in regaining dominance. Victory can only be achieved by registering ourselves at the general registration of voters on 3 June. This is the weapon we need to assist our presidential candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, to win when it's time to vote," she said.
Shaningwa added: “Independence means that we must work hard to remain in power and respect the gains of our fallen heroes and heroines. No nation can stand on its own, especially one that does not participate in its production to feed its people. We already know what it means if the nation cannot feed itself and that is not a nation. A nation should be able to feed itself."
Shaningwa also appealed to members to desist from insulting party leaders.
"You do not have to insult your leaders. We are here to serve and not fight you. Just talk to us politely and we will do our best to address your concerns. And as for the political leaders of the Kavango regions, especially the governor, [they have] to make sure that food does not rot away in the warehouses while people starve,” she said.
Green schemes
Shaningwa also revealed a recent decision to fund the revival of green schemes in the Zambezi and Kavango regions.
“Some green schemes, which are agricultural projects aimed at boosting local food production, are faced with various challenges. Last month, the vice-president Nandi-Ndaitwah visited almost all the green schemes and reported to President Nangolo Mbumba and Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila about the need to revive them in this area," she said.
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Swapo’s votes in the 2019 general election dropped to 65%, down from 80% garnered in 2014. Its candidate, late president Hage Geingob, received 56.3% of the votes, a significant drop from the 87% he received in 2014.
The ruling party's support plummeted from 83% in the 2015 regional elections to 57% in 2020, and from 74% in the 2015 local authority elections to 40% in 2020.
Swapo held a majority in 52 out of the 57 local authorities in 2015; however, the 2020 elections saw the party lose its majority in 33 local authorities, with the most significant losses occurring in the central and southern areas. Opposition parties gained ground during the 2019 and 2020 elections, challenging Swapo's longstanding electoral dominance.
Register to vote
Speaking at an election rally in Rundu last week, Shaningwa encouraged party members to register to vote when the registration period officially starts.
“Registration [plays] a critical role in regaining dominance. Victory can only be achieved by registering ourselves at the general registration of voters on 3 June. This is the weapon we need to assist our presidential candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, to win when it's time to vote," she said.
Shaningwa added: “Independence means that we must work hard to remain in power and respect the gains of our fallen heroes and heroines. No nation can stand on its own, especially one that does not participate in its production to feed its people. We already know what it means if the nation cannot feed itself and that is not a nation. A nation should be able to feed itself."
Shaningwa also appealed to members to desist from insulting party leaders.
"You do not have to insult your leaders. We are here to serve and not fight you. Just talk to us politely and we will do our best to address your concerns. And as for the political leaders of the Kavango regions, especially the governor, [they have] to make sure that food does not rot away in the warehouses while people starve,” she said.
Green schemes
Shaningwa also revealed a recent decision to fund the revival of green schemes in the Zambezi and Kavango regions.
“Some green schemes, which are agricultural projects aimed at boosting local food production, are faced with various challenges. Last month, the vice-president Nandi-Ndaitwah visited almost all the green schemes and reported to President Nangolo Mbumba and Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila about the need to revive them in this area," she said.
[email protected]
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