Swapo’s assigned leader for //Kharas, Laurencia Stephanus said without the party’s singular call for unity of purpose, resistance would have been jeopardised and freedom and independence never attained.

She addressed supporters during a joint party elders council and youth league retreat in Keetmanshoop last weekend. The party will have its watershed congress towards the end of the year.

“To date, Swapo lives up to its true character of uniting all Namibians under the practical concept of ‘One Namibia, One Nation’,” she told the gathering. 

The party’s central committee member added that the political movement is the only one that continues to promote effective governance and live up to the core principles of governance namely accountability, commitment and transparency, above all else. 

Stephanus added that Swapo has never given up the task of nation building. 

“We are the only party that took stock of past mistakes which clearly shows our responsibility and responsiveness to the needs of the people of Namibia,’’ she said. 

She railed against “political parasites within Swapo” claiming rights and privileges all the time but constantly failing to honour their obligations in the party. 

“There are furthermore those who exit Swapo when not appointed into positions of their choice,” she added. 

Stephanus also said the party is extremely disciplined with a defined order, structure and governance. 

“We don’t change our elected leaders, especially before the end of their tenure,’’ she assured the supporters.

“Therefore, the youth should not gamble their future away and must zealously guard the inheritance which their elders provided to them, namely political stability,’’ she said when addressing specifically members of the youth present at the retreat. 

Shifting the attention to the elders, she encouraged them to continue building on their legacy and groom the youth. 

“Your strength is measured by that of your team, followers and subordinates,’’ she said. 

Speaking at the same occasion, Matheus Mumbala, Swapo’s regional coordinator, urged the youth, as pioneers, to defend and protect the party’s legacy. 

He called on the elders, as special political advisors to the party, to remain active for if they become stagnant and Swapo falls apart, they have no one to blame. 

“The time for us to act is now, to put actions to our words and promises,’’ Mumbala said.