A Swapo central committee member and delegate to the party’s seventh elective congress slated for next week has hailed the manner in which party leaders vying for the top positions have campaigned.
Emma Kantema-Gaomas, who is also the deputy minister of youth and sport, said the modus operandi for the just-ended campaign trail was a testament to the robust democratic principles that the ruling party espouses.
“I am grateful that the leadership of the party under comrade [President Hage] Geingob allowed such an open and democratic process of canvassing for votes from congress delegates”.
“I am extremely satisfied with what we have achieved as a party over the past six weeks of campaigns for the three positions of vice president, secretary general and deputy secretary general,” said Kantema-Gaomas, who will represent the Kavango East region at the congress.
She observed that the campaigns showed democracy at its best, as candidates shared their vision for the party and with congress delegates.
In less than seven days, over 700 delegates will descend on Windhoek to, amongst others, elect new party leaders.
In an interview with New Era yesterday, Kantema-Gaomas said the recently-completed 14 regional engagement meetings with delegates to the congress underscored the need for all party members to hold hands as they march forward to elect “the most trusted and suitable leaders” to take over the reins of the party.
“The party continues to reinvent the wheel towards modernisation, which is substantiated through its introspective workshops.
Although we have observed a disregard of the campaign rules which were designed to uphold good governance, this can be likened to teething problems which only last for a short while, and usher in the new while getting rid of the old,” she stated.
She said as they approach the much-anticipated congress, the campaigns have demonstrated that they are a united party.
“Notwithstanding the few challenges encountered during these engagements, we will surely be able to maintain an upward trajectory for our party,” the politician added.