Africa-Press – Namibia. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the official opening of the Swapo Party central committee meeting in Windhoek, 13 September 2025
I am honoured to stand before you today to present my maiden address to the Swapo Party central committee since my election as party president at the extraordinary congress in March 2025.
I wish to express once again my deepest appreciation to the party leadership and rank and file for placing their trust and confidence in me to lead our esteemed party. As we advance, I will rely on your support as we strive collectively to deliver sustainable development and shared prosperity to our people.
Comrades, as we may all know, central committee (CC) meetings are far more than routine gatherings. They represent a constitutional obligation and a solemn forum where we jointly discuss party matters, refine our vision, and reinforce our shared commitment. Despite our varied duties in government and private life, we must come together regularly to focus on the issues of concern to our members, the party, and the country.
It is a common fact that the 2024 presidential and national assembly elections have renewed the governance mandate of the Swapo Party, extending our stewardship of this nation to 40 years. However, our democratic journey for 40 years remains unfinished. While last year’s presidential and national assembly elections have passed, this year, Namibians will again exercise their democratic right when they go to the polls on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, to elect councillors for regional councils and local authorities.
Accordingly, the theme of the 2024 elections, namely, ‘Unity in Diversity: Natural Resources Beneficiation for Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Development’, will remain the theme of this year’s elections as we all agree that it will be the theme to take us to 2030.
I am glad to inform the CC that the commitments we made to the Namibian people in the 2024 Swapo Party election manifesto are aligned with the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), which the government launched in July 2025. In line with the Swapo Party election manifesto implementation plan, after three months in office, I reported to the nation on the early progress of the 8th administration.
I therefore call upon Namibians to entrust us with a decisive mandate in the upcoming regional and local authority elections. Let us secure a commanding majority in all 121 constituencies and 59 local authorities, so that our vision can be realised without obstruction.
From material evidence, it is clear that in areas where we do not have a strong majority, service delivery will be delayed by standoffs, walkouts, unnecessary disputes, and other issues that might undermine our developmental imperatives. This situation has to be stopped by the people of Namibia by voting for the Swapo Party to enable our government to implement our national development goals as articulated in the NDP6.
Comrades, the people of Namibia deserve better. A vote for the Swapo Party is a vote for progress, accountability, and service delivery without delay. It is no longer business as usual. I give you my assurance that this mandate will not be taken for granted. The Swapo Party leadership, rank and file know well that Namibians will retain the power to hold us accountable, guided by the national constitution. Hence, we must deliver at all costs. Therefore, we should not fail them but lead them to prosperity.
Across southern Africa, we have seen the shifting geopolitical wind of change, and we are aware of how liberation movements are being targeted to be removed from power. In the face of this, we must remain vigilant, disciplined, and united in our mission to uplift the lives of our people through quality service delivery.
The 2024 presidential and national assembly elections entrusted me with the highest office in the land and renewed the Swapo Party mandate to run this country. The 2025 to 2030 Swapo Party election manifesto, being a contract between the party and the people of Namibia, is the cornerstone of this administration’s work; hence, all members of this administration have a responsibility to ensure its implementation. I am happy to inform the central committee that the executives under my leadership are committed and determined to carry out the mandate given to the Swapo Party by the people of Namibia.
Since we came into office in March 2025, I have seen members of the cabinet and their senior executives who are hands-on, and I believe we will continue to serve our people without reservations and as united people.
Furthermore, my recent visit to some regions, whether advancing food security initiatives or consulting with traditional leaders, reflects this government’s resolve to unite our people and strengthen our national development agenda.
In preparation for the upcoming elections, the candidate selection process is nearing completion. I commend the districts that have already concluded this process and urge the remaining ones to finalise their work with urgency, leading to full compliance with the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s timelines.
At the same time, I am deeply concerned by the petitions and grievances that have emerged. I remind all leaders and party members that honesty, integrity, and loyalty to the party must be the compass that guides our actions. Let us adhere faithfully to the Swapo Party constitution, code of conduct, and rules and procedures. Petitions born out of indiscipline or self-serving weaken the party and erode the trust of the Namibian people.
We must safeguard the dignity of our party, protect its legacy, and inspire confidence that Swapo remains the reliable custodian of Namibia’s future. Therefore, all our selection processes must be guided by our constitution and the rules and procedures. We must also make sure we get candidates who will effectively and efficiently carry out the mandate of the party.
Comrades, the Swapo Party will not forget that it is the international community that stood by us during our liberation struggle for independence and self-determination. Hence, we fully support multilateralism, and we call on the United Nations and the international community to strengthen multilateralism to safeguard international peace and stability.
Furthermore, the Swapo Party is guided by its principles of solidarity, freedom, and justice. Hence, we will stand in solidarity with the people fighting for self-determination with particular reference to the people of Palestine and Western Sahara. We are calling on the international community to ensure that peace prevails in the world, including Gaza.
We also stand in solidarity with the people of Cuba, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe, who continue to suffer due to the embargo imposed on them for many years. According to the Namibian constitution, international disputes must be solved by peaceful means through negotiations.
Hence, we commend the government of Qatar that has been involved in hosting peace negotiations, bringing together the warring parties in the Middle East to solve their differences through negotiations.
The Swapo Party expresses deep concern regarding the recent actions taken by the government of Israel in Qatar, which is viewed as a blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state of Qatar in contravention of the principles established in the charter of the United Nations and in breach of established norms of international law.
It is now my honour to declare the Swapo Party central committee meeting officially open.
Swapo, united!
Swapo, victorious!
Now, hard work!
Now, hard work!
I thank you.
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