Swapo extraordinary congress in April 2025

Swapo’s central committee has decided that 19 April 2025 will be the date when an extraordinary party congress will be held – and not anytime this year.

Speaking to the media on Saturday afternoon, party lawyer Sisa Namandje argued there is nothing in the Swapo constitution that forces the organisation to hold an extraordinary congress this year.

This pronouncement comes in the wake of a central committee (CC) decision to take note of vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the ruling party’s presidential candidate, without her having to contest for the party presidential position at an extraordinary congress.

Namandje said in legal terms this is not an endorsement of the candidacy of Nandi-Ndaitwah, who on Saturday afternoon invited supporters to her house for celebrations after the CC meeting.

“First of all, there is no constitutional provision obligating the party or requiring the party, after calling within a period of three months, to hold the extraordinary congress during a particular period,” Namandje said.

“The party is entitled in the circumstances to choose a date that is convenient in the political realm and that is practical. Therefore, the party considered various matters,” he said.

“So, we are not under obligation to explain to anybody because our constitution does not give us or specify a time period within which we must [hold an extraordinary congress]. Secondly, we said but we have good reasons not to hold it now, and we chose the birthday of our party next year, thank you,” Namandje said.

The party vice president position remains vacant.

Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa has in the meantime called for unity in the party, which ahead of the CC meeting stood divided on the timing of an extraordinary congress.

“We are preparing you to take over from us. We are preparing you and we are laying a solid ground for you to do that,” Shaningwa said.

“When you land you will land on a soft floor. Whatever we are doing is no longer for us but for you. Therefore, unity in the Swapo party is of vital importance.”

“I thank only the central committee of the Swapo party. When I was consulted by the media all these days, I told them that I have high hopes and belief in the central committee because they have gone through tough and thick situations, not only now but also in the past. I was expecting them to take the right decision,” she said.

Party stalwarts like Nahas Angula and Jerry Ekandjo, who have been opposed to holding the extraordinary congress next year, are yet to pronounce themselves on the outcome of the CC meeting.