President Hage Geingob has slammed Swapo detractors by questioning why people hate the party which brought the freedom that many Namibians are enjoying today. 

“The freedom of the press you are enjoying, we fought for it. Where were some of you? With the Boers,” he said, adding that he is getting tired of people trying to make Swapo members feel guilty about the party. 

“Some people want Swapo members to be tired of being in the party. They want us to deny that we are Swapo members. How does one deny a historical movement that freed this country?” he asked.

Geingob made these remarks while opening the ruling party’s central committee meeting, graced by Founding President Sam Nujoma in Windhoek, on Saturday.

The meeting also saw Francina Kahungu, who earlier this year was overwhelmingly elected as the new Swapo Party Women’s Council secretary, being sworn in as a central committee member.

Namibian National Teachers Union (Nantu) secretary general Loide Shaanika and Ondobe constituency councillor Mandume Pohamba were also sworn in, in their absence.

Geingob continued that he was recently shocked to see on television a PDM leader labelling Swapo a puppet.

 “If I was there...they are lucky I was watching it on TV. Somebody from DTA called Swapo a sell-out and puppets. Where were you, young people?” 

The President thus wants his party members to defend the party.

He also took a swipe at other critics.

“They say we have been too long in power. But when we were fighting, they never said we were fighting for too long. We continued to fight for many years. Now, they are saying we have been too long in power. Now, they make a big issue out of it,” Geingob said.

Swapo will convene an elective congress in less than six months to elect new leaders to steer the party for the next five years. That congress is slated for November.

Recently, Nujoma said he believes Namibia is ready for a female head of state.

In an exclusive interview with New Era to mark his 93rd birthday, he said Swapo has capable leaders - including youth and women - to take over from Geingob, whose current and last term as head of state ends in March 2025. 

“In many other countries, they have women presidents,” he said from his Windhoek office. 

“For example, in India, they had a woman prime minister in the name of Indira Gandhi, and many others too. So, we must prepare our women to take over the reins of power when the time comes.” 

Several prominent female leaders, including Swapo vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, are among those linked to the contestation.  

 Caption: (Swapo) Where were you… President Hage Geingob has slammed Swapo detractors.

Photo: Emmency Nuukala