Swapo to be schooled Communist Party way

AS reports increase about China gaining ever greater influence in Africa, the ruling Swapo Party has mobilised about 50 of its cadres for a three-day workshop in Windhoek, which is being overseen by Chinese experts.

Three young Chinese scholars from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have been sent from Beijing to hold a workshop for their African comrades in Namibia on researching party history, party building, “achievements and experiences of opening up the party” and how to mobilise masses and members at grassroots level. Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who also doubles as Swapo’s information and mobilisation secretary, yesterday welcomed the three young Communists.”The Chinese Communist Party helped us during the liberation struggle and the Chinese government supported us with military training and equipment during that time,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said after the Swapo Party song was sung.”A while ago the Communist Party of China donated computers to Swapo,” the Information Minister noted at the welcoming ceremony.The object of the exercise was to eventually implement a Congress resolution of 2002, to start a Swapo Party school to teach members the history of their party and to conduct research, according to Nandi-Ndaitwah.A manual was to be drawn up in preparation for the establishment of that school.The Chinese Communist lecturers are Professor Xie Chuntao, deputy director general of the department of Teaching and Research of the Party History School, Mou Hong, division director of the Bureau of African Affairs in the international department of the CCP and Long Ziaixian, deputy director of party research and party organisation.The workshop ends tomorrow.Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who also doubles as Swapo’s information and mobilisation secretary, yesterday welcomed the three young Communists.”The Chinese Communist Party helped us during the liberation struggle and the Chinese government supported us with military training and equipment during that time,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said after the Swapo Party song was sung.”A while ago the Communist Party of China donated computers to Swapo,” the Information Minister noted at the welcoming ceremony. The object of the exercise was to eventually implement a Congress resolution of 2002, to start a Swapo Party school to teach members the history of their party and to conduct research, according to Nandi-Ndaitwah.A manual was to be drawn up in preparation for the establishment of that school.The Chinese Communist lecturers are Professor Xie Chuntao, deputy director general of the department of Teaching and Research of the Party History School, Mou Hong, division director of the Bureau of African Affairs in the international department of the CCP and Long Ziaixian, deputy director of party research and party organisation.The workshop ends tomorrow.