Ignatius Kariseb 

The past weeks saw the Swapo party go all out in what our commander-in-chief describes as `Internal Interviews’ for key portfolios in our party. This process stretched every length and breadth of our beautiful Namibia. 

During this strenuous process, candidates vying for positions set out their vision, their plans, their beliefs of what a Swapo would look like under their respective administrations. 

I bemoan analysts who say that these party manifestos do not cater for bread-and-butter issues.

 Having witnessed 13/14 regional campaigns, I can share with confidence that candidates left nothing to chance in unpacking how they will address issues of the day. All candidates fared well in how their leadership will address issues such as housing, unemployment, economic growth, social protection, health and education. 

I pen this opinion piece to solidify further ground support for the incumbent, Cde Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who retained her position of VP of our mighty SWAPO Party. In the spirit of camaraderie, this serves as no memo to decampaign other candidates, but rather to make a greater case as to why we threw everything we had behind Cde Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. As is now the case, there is life beyond congress, and as comrades, we will work with all in the spirit of building our party. 

It is the collective leadership of Cde. Hage G Geingob, Cde Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Cde. Sophia Shaningwa and Cde Uahekua Herunga that will steer the SWAPO Party ship. 

Cde Sarah Kuugongelwa-Amadhila remains our senior party leader and leader of government business. Cde Pohamba Shifeta remains our Environment and Tourism political head, and we will continue to support your drive of growing tourism and protecting our environment.
There are many key themes such as New Economic Thinking, Grassroots Economic Growth, Genuine Youth Empowerment and Women’s Empowerment. All these inform the theme of promoting a forward-thinking Swapo Party. 

Cde Nandi-Ndaitwah brings forth the notion of a forward-thinking Swapo Party that will address the challenges of the day.  

What does it mean to be a forward-thinking brand, and what does it mean for the Swapo Party?

Forward-thinking is a mindset that considers how things will be ahead of the present. Politically, it means taking into account many factors that affect political parties and have the ability to deter it from successfully implementing its set vision, agenda and mission. 

A forward-thinking mentality for political parties needs to be adopted by all rank & file, from sections, branches, districts & regional leaderships. Because it is often these cadres who consider how the future will change, so they can adapt to it, or even be ahead of the curve when it comes to considering potential trends for our mighty party. 

For the Swapo Party, forward-thinking is the synthesis of creativity and intuition that helps in the formulation and execution of a vision for the organisation. What this further does is that it facilitates the process of breaking down a goal into steps, designing how each step may be implemented, and estimating anticipated outcomes. As a political party whose actions affect and impact the lives of many Namibians across the country, we need to be guided by this approach as it allows us a better chance at implementation. 

The Swapo Party consists of party members, sections, branches, districts, regional leaderships, CC and the politburo. This complex nature of our organisation pushes us to change the order of business, and demand a greater level of engagement & participation from these structures. Only when our structures are able to achieve this can they vehemently defend the party as they are involved in decision-making. Why is this important? The aspect of a forward-thinking Swapo accommodates the analogy above & creates a more amicable environment for all cadres of the party. 

Strategic and forward-thinking helps in cementing a political strategy that is unifying, builds social capital and rationale and involves an integrative framework for decisions related to resource mobilisation, management of structures, implementation of the constitution and the direction of the business. Successful strategic thinking adds value to our party, and can help maximise resources and initiate positive changes.

Looking at the calibre of leader we find in Cde Nandi-Ndaitwah, we stand in sheer confidence that she has what it takes to implement the above analysis. The Swapo Party, as a movement premised in service delivery to her people, we stand ready to receive the forward-thinking marching orders from our Vice Presidency. 

In further cementing the aspect of a forward-thinking Swapo Party, as a party we will without compromise prioritise a sound yet empowering economic environment not only for big business, but to ensure that SMEs & micro-enterprises also benefit meaningfully. As a forward-thinking Swapo Party, we will preside over a party that is further climate- adherent and ensures policies promote sustainability. 

Lastly, as a forward-thinking Swapo Party, we will work within our means, and not overpromise on what we can and cannot do. We will further create an enabling environment for businesses to grow & investment. But investment alone does not equate to job creation; we need to ensure that we make the right moves and right steps towards that. This is the kind of economic thinking that will guide the party under the leadership of Cde Nandi-Ndaitwah. This piece is intended to facilitate the literacy and understanding of the leadership stance when it comes to the state of the party, its structures, economic thinking and key themes underpinning her leadership. 

I congratulate all comrades who made it into the ranks. We remain your fighters, and will without grudges push to regain lost ground, and continue to build our party. Place the interest of the people, it being that of the party, first.