SWAPO
The South - West Africa People's Organization ( mostly SWAPO ), today officially SWAPO Party of Namibia ( SWAPO of Namibia) is a political party in Namibia and forms since independence in 1990 on the basis of significant electoral victories for the governments of the country. Before that SWAPO was a Marxist -oriented liberation movement.
The SWAPO led, among other things, armed struggles, first of Zambia, later of Angola against the occupying power South Africa, called the Namibian liberation struggle.
Motto is SWAPO United, SWAPO Victorious, Now hardwork. ( SWAPO United, SWAPO Victorious, now hard work ).
- 3.1 Party Congress
- 3.2 Party leadership
- 3.3 Central Committee
- 3.4 Politburo
- 3.5 Vertical party building
- 6.1 Parliament
- 6.2 President
History
Foundation Day of the party is the 19th April 1960. Founding members and Party Herman Toivo ja Toivo fathers, and Samuel Nujoma. An important forerunner of the SWAPO was founded in 1957, the Ovamboland People's Organization ( OPO), which had previously resigned from SWANU arising from the substantive differences.
In 1961 was chosen for the preparation of the armed struggle against South African apartheid occupying power, which was recorded on 18 July 1966. On August 26, 1966, came the first clash with South African troops. As the South African army undertook an air attack on the SWAPO headquarters in the Angolan city Cassinga on May 4, 1978, several hundred SWAPO supporters were killed. In the year 1982 1268 fighters of the Liberation Movement and 77 South African soldiers came in fighting between South African troops and SWAPO killed. The SWAPO President Sam Nujoma called for the end of May 1983, the UN Secretary General Perez de Cuellar to negotiate with South Africa and SWAPO on a Ceasefire and an implementation of UN Resolution 435. With several military operations ( Protea, Daisy ) of the South African armed forces in the summer of 1983, more than 5,000 soldiers penetrated up to 250 kilometers deep into the southern Angola and destroying SWAPO bases. By mid-August 1983 418 SWAPO-K ämpfer and 24 South African soldiers were killed. South Africa temporarily controlled the Angolan provinces Cuando Cubango, Cunene and Moxico.
From 7 November to 11 November 1989, the first free elections took place, in which SWAPO prevailed against the Democratic Alliance gym with about 57 percent of the vote and then with Sam Nujoma asked the president. On 8 December 1994, the SWAPO won in the parliamentary elections 53 of 72 seats. In 1999 Nujoma began his third term as President of Namibia after he initiated a change in the constitution to allow himself a third term. 2004 saw him Hifikepunye Pohamba to the post of President of the Republic, who is regarded as the self-chosen candidate of Nujoma. Nujoma but still was chairman of SWAPO until 2007. Subsequently, as agreed Hifikepunye Pohamba was elected party president and confirmed in 2012 in the Office.
Substantive Profile
Politically and ideologically, can the SWAPO as African- nationalist lane. Since its inception, the party has given three different basic programs (1961, 1976, 1991). In the election manifesto of 2004 entitled action program for peace, unity and sustainable development, particularly the emphasis on national unity, peace and reconciliation are at the forefront. Other topics include the expansion of justice within society and the creation of a dynamic economy. In the social field, the focus is among others on the topics of land reform, gender equality, improvement of education, the expansion of health services and the infrastructure and support for older people and people with disabilities.
Land reforms
On the issue of land reform, to commercial farmland be distributed more evenly, without compromising the productivity of the respective lands. It is located in the party agree that the Willing - Buyer, willing sellers principle had failed. With the help of real estate reviews and tax laws one would like to open up new, previously classified as unproductive land. By increasing funding the land reform should be pursued beyond. In addition, the redistribution process should be much more to be accompanied by training and capacity building, so as to ensure sustainable land use.
Organizational structure
Party Congress
The highest decision-making body is the Party Congress, which meets every five years. It is composed of around 570 delegates. The members come from the national, regional and district levels, and various affiliated organizations, such as women 's or youth organization.
In addition to the Central Committee (60 members), the Congress is composed of ten delegates from the 13 regional executive committees and three delegates per district party. In addition, 20 delegates from the SWAPO Women 's Council, as well as 15 per delegate by the SWAPO Youth League, the SWAPO Elders ' League and the Confederation of Trade Unions NUNW, the only affiliated member of SWAPO.
Party leadership
The party leadership is composed of the President, the Vice- President, Secretary General and Deputy Secretary-General and elected by Congress. The party leadership may also have recourse to so-called " National Officers ", which serve as spokesperson of the party for certain matters. Since December 1, 2012 the Office of the Secretary is a full time position and must not be dressed at the same time with a ministerial post.
Central committee
The Central Committee ( CC) acts as the supreme organ of the party between congresses. The Central Committee shall be composed of the party president, from the three other members of the party leadership (Vice President, Secretary General, Deputy Secretary-General ), the Secretaries of the youth, women and elders organization. There are also 13 regional coordinators and 57 members who are elected by the Congress. 6 members are appointed by the party president. Annually in at least one meeting of the Central Committee, said at the request of the Politburo Additional meetings may also be initiated.
Politburo
The Politburo accepts in accordance with the accumulated SWAPO the task as a steering committee of the Central Committee shall be composed of 21 members. The Politburo is responsible for the implementation of all decisions, resolutions and directives of the Party Congress and the Central Committee. The members of the Politburo are made up of the party leadership as well as 17 other members, who are elected from the Central Committee. The Politburo meets as scheduled every four weeks.
Vertical party building
Vertical SWAPO divided from bottom to top in Sections, Branches, Districts, Regions and the national level.
Electorate
The voting behavior in Namibia is strongly influenced by ethnic loyalty. Since independence, the SWAPO can almost fully rely on the support of the largest ethnic group of the Ovambo in northern Namibia. These represent about half of the population of Namibia, SWAPO which usually can unite the majority of the votes.
Presidential Candidate
Basically, the SWAPO - chairman is always the presidential candidate of the party. A Party Act by following this, if he can not compete as a presidential candidate or wants, that each senior SWAPO member after. For the presidential elections in 2014, this results in prior the end of 2012 that Hage Geingob will be the presidential candidate. He would be the first candidate who does not belong to the Ovambo. Subsequent candidate would be Secretary Nangolo Mbumba.
Election results
Their primary electorate - and the majority of the active politicians (including the SWAPO Youth League ) - the party today among living mainly in the north and Windhoek Ovambonamibiern, the largest ethnic group in Namibia (50 % of the national population ). SWAPO has can thus keep its absolute majority in the National Assembly occupied with 72 parliamentarians of Namibia since 1989.