Pohamba calls on cadres to ensure landslide victory in 2014 elections

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba has congratulated Nangolo Mbumba, the secretary general of the Swapo Party, for having taken the position on a full-time basis.

Speaking at the Swapo Central Committee meeting, Pohamba said this would ensure that the ‘administrative machinery of the party is put into higher gear to improve the effectiveness and efficiency within’ the party.Thanking Mbumba for having served in his former role as a member of the Executive in government, he said the contribution the newly elected secretary general of the Swapo Party to nation building and the welfare of the nation is highly appreciated.Yesterday’s Central Committee meeting elected new members to the party’s Politburo for the next five years.Pohamba also thanked all new additions to the Central Committee, congratulating them for the election to this organ at the Swapo congress at the beginning of this month.He reminded all Central Committee members of the heavy responsibility that has been placed on them by serving on the highest decision-making body between party congresses.’Given the fact that … the elections during the fifth congress were held in a democratic and mature manner, its result must be accepted by all Swapo Party members,’ Pohamba said.He called on all those elected at the congress to work with ‘dedication to fulfil their assigned tasks and obligations’.Referring to outstanding amendments to the Swapo constitution, Pohamba said the Politburo meeting of November 19 had proposed that an extraordinary congress be held next year to ‘discuss, adopt and approve the proposed amendments’.He called on Mbumba to provide the Central Committee with the proposed changes in time for them to be tabled for consideration by the extraordinary congress. He did not say when exactly the extraordinary congress would be held.Pohamba then turned the attention of the meeting to the 2014 national and presidential elections, saying, ‘Our focus now is to prepare for a landslide victory in those elections’.He said the party must reinforce unity and ensure that it remains the political home of the majority.