SWAPO

political party in Namibia, formerly organization

The South West Africa People’s Organisation (/ˈswɑːp/, SWAPO; Afrikaans: Suidwes-Afrikaanse Volks Organisasie, SWAVO; German: Südwestafrikanische Volksorganisation, SWAVO), officially known as the SWAPO Party of Namibia is a political party in Namibia. It has been the most powerful party in the country since the country became independent from South Africa in 1990. It was a former independence and populist movement in South West Africa and was one of the main groups fighting in the South African Border War.

South West Africa People’s Organisation
AbbreviationSWAPO
LeaderHage Geingob
Secretary-GeneralSophia Shaningwa
Vice PresidentNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Vice Secretary-GeneralNangolo Mbumba
Executive DirectorAustin Samupwa
FoundersAndimba Toivo ya Toivo
Sam Nujoma
Jacob Kuhangua
Louis Nelengani
Lucas Nepela
Founded19 April 1960; 64 years ago (1960-04-19)
Preceded byOvamboland People's Organization
HeadquartersErf 2464
Hans-Dietrich Genscher Street
Katutura
Windhoek
Khomas Region
NewspaperNamibia Today (1960-2015)
Think tankSWAPO Think Tank
Youth wingSWAPO Party Youth League
Women's wingSWAPO Women's Council
Elder's wingSWAPO Elder’s Council
Paramilitary wingPeople's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) (integrated into Namibian Defence Force)
IdeologySince 2017:
Socialism with Namibian characteristics[1][2][3]
Independence until 2017:
Social democracy[4][5]
Statism[6]
Pre-independence:
Socialism[4]
Marxism–Leninism[7]
Political positionLeft-wing
International affiliationSocialist International
African affiliationFormer Liberation Movements of Southern Africa
Seats in the National Assembly
63 / 96
Seats in the National Council
28 / 42
Regional Councillors
88 / 121
Local Councillors
277 / 378
Pan-African Parliament
4 / 5
Party flag

History

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Foundation

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SWAPO was started on 19 April 1960. The leaders named the party to show that it represented all Namibians, but the organisation is popular among Ovambo people of northern Namibia, who are nearly half the total population of South West Africa.[8]

South West Africa

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During 1962, SWAPO had became the main independence, anti-colonial organisation for the people in Namibia. SWAPO used guerrilla tactics to fight the colonial South African Defence Force. A major conflict broke out on 26 of August 1966, when a group of the South African Police and SWAPO forces shot at each other. This became the start of what became known in South Africa as the Border War.

The neighbouring country of Angola gained its independence on 11 November 1975 during the Portuguese Colonial war. The leftist Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) came to power as the main party of Angola. In March 1976, the MPLA offered SWAPO bases in Angola for launching attacks against the South African military.

Modern Namibia

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Namibia gained its independence in 1990. SWAPO have since become the dominant political party of Namibia.[8]

Notable members

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Election history

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Presidential elections

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Election Party candidate Votes % Result
1994 Sam Nujoma 370,452 76.34% Elected  Y
1999 414,096 76.82% Elected  Y
2004 Hifikepunye Pohamba 625,605 76.45% Elected  Y
2009 611,241 75.25% Elected  Y
2014 Hage Geingob 772,528 86.73% Elected  Y
2019 464,703 56.3% Elected  Y

National Assembly elections

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Election Party leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Result
1989 Sam Nujoma 384,567 57.33%
41 / 72
  41   1st Majority government
1994 370,452 76.34%
53 / 72
  12   1st Supermajority government
1999 414,096 76.82%
55 / 78
  2   1st Supermajority government
2004 625,605 76.44%
55 / 78
    1st Supermajority government
2009 Hifikepunye Pohamba 611,241 75.25%
54 / 72
  1   1st Supermajority government
2014 785,671 86.73%
77 / 96
  23   1st Supermajority government
2019 Hage Geingob 536,861 65.45%
63 / 96
  14   1st Majority government

National Council elections

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Election Seats +/– Position Result
1992
19 / 26
  19   1st Supermajority
1998
21 / 26
  2   1st Supermajority
2004
24 / 26
  3   1st Supermajority
2010
24 / 26
    1st Supermajority
2015
40 / 42
  16   1st Supermajority
2020
28 / 42
  12   1st Supermajority

References

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  1. "Socialism with Namibian characteristics". Namibian Sun. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  2. "Will Swapo's Socialism Come to 'Mixed Economy' Namibia?". The Namibian. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  3. Iileka, Sakeus (9 November 2017). "Politburo approves sweeping changes". The Namibian. p. 1. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Tötemeyer, Gerhard (December 2007). "The Management of a Dominant Political Party system with particular reference to Namibia" (PDF). Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  5. Dauth, Timothy (17 January 1995). "From Liberation Organisations to Ruling Parties: The ANC and SWAPO in Transition". NamNet Digest, Vol. 95, no. 3. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  6. Seibeb, Henny (12 May 2017). "Social Movements, Party Politics And Democracy In Namibia". The Namibian. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  7. Soiri, Iina (May 1996). The Radical Motherhood: Namibian Women's Independence Struggle. ISBN 9789171063809. Retrieved 20 November 2019. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8. 8.0 8.1 Matundu-Tjiparuro, Kae (19 April 2010). "The founder of Swapo". New Era (Namibia).