PRESIDENT Hage Geingob has reminded Swapo politicians that they are sent to parliament to represent the party and not their individual agendas.
Geingob made these remarks during the opening of the ruling-party’s electoral college in Windhoek on Saturday.
The gathering will finalise the list from which parliamentarians to represent the party in the National Assembly will be chosen.
“As a Swapo party member of parliament, you must always be cognisant of the fact that you were not elected to parliament. Rather, it is the party which is elected by the people and on that basis, cadres enter parliament due to their ranking on the party list,” Geingob said.
He added: “So there is no way any Swapo party cadre should go to parliament and act as if he/she was individually elected. I hope that we keep this in mind and commit ourselves to stick to party rules, moving forward”.
The president also touched on the process leading to the electoral college.
“I am aware that the process leading up to this electoral college was not smooth. There were
periods when things seemed to be in disarray, but in true Swapo party fashion, you pulled
through,” he said.
Geingob praised the secretary general Sophia Shaningwa and the party leadership for pulling off the event.
He encouraged leaders to be diverse in the candidates they elect for parliament.
“I call upon those cadres who will be elected to the party list, to inculcate within the party rank and file, the ethos of Swapo, defined by our primary objective, which is to unite the people of Namibia,
irrespective of race, religion, sex or ethnic origin into a democratic, vibrant and peace-loving
nation,” he said.
The president will add 10 names to the party list after it is completed today.
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