The South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO ; , SWAVO; , SWAVO), officially known as the SWAPO Party of Namibia, is a political party and former independence movement in

Namibia Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country on the west coast of Southern Africa. Its borders include the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south; in the no ...

(formerly

South West Africa South West Africa was a territory under Union of South Africa, South African administration from 1915 to 1990. Renamed ''Namibia'' by the United Nations in 1968, Independence of Namibia, it became independent under this name on 21 March 1990. ...

). Founded in 1960, it has been the governing party in Namibia since the country achieved independence in 1990. The party continues to be dominated in number and influence by the Ovambo ethnic group. SWAPO held a two-thirds majority in

parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

from 1994 to 2019. In the

general election A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from By-election, by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. Gener ...

held in November 2019, the party won 65.5% of the popular vote and 63 out of the 104 seats in the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...

. It also holds 28 out of the 42 seats in the National Council. From November 2017 until his death in February 2024, Namibian President

Hage Geingob Hage Gottfried Geingob (3 August 1941 – 4 February 2024) was a Namibian politician who served as the third president of Namibia from 2015 until his death in February 2024. Geingob was the country's first prime minister A prime minister ...

remained the president of SWAPO after being elected to the position at the party's electoral congress.

History

Background and foundation

German South West Africa was established in 1884. After World War I, the

League of Nations The League of Nations (LN or LoN; , SdN) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920), Paris Peace ...

gave South West Africa, formerly a German colony, to the United Kingdom as a mandate under the administration of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. When the National Party won the 1948 election in South Africa and subsequently introduced

apartheid Apartheid ( , especially South African English: , ; , ) was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. It was characterised by an ...

legislation, these laws were also applied to South West Africa which was considered the ''de facto'' fifth province of South Africa. SWAPO was founded on 19 April 1960 as the successor of the

Ovamboland People's Organization The Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO) was a nationalist organization that existed between 1959 and 1960 in South West Africa (present day Namibia). The aim of the organization was to end the South African colonial administration, and the plac ...

. Leaders renamed the party to show that it represented all Namibians. But, the organisation had its base among the Ovambo people of northern Namibia, who constituted nearly half the total population.

Struggle for independence

During 1962, SWAPO had emerged as the dominant nationalist organisation for the Namibian people. It co-opted other groups such as the South West Africa National Union (SWANU), and later in 1976 the Namibia African People's Democratic Organisation. SWAPO used

guerrilla tactics Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, Partisan (military), partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians, which may include Children in the military, recruite ...

to fight the South African Defence Force. On 26 August 1966, the first major clash of the conflict took place, when a unit of the South African Police, supported by the

South African Air Force The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air warfare branch of South African National Defence Force, with its headquarters in Pretoria. The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force saw service in World War II a ...

, exchanged fire with SWAPO forces. This date is generally regarded as the start of what became known in South Africa as the Border War. One important factor in the fight for independence was the 1971-72 Namibian contract workers strike, which fought for the elimination of the contract labor system and independence from South Africa. An underlying goal was the promotion of independence under SWAPO leadership. In 1973, the

United Nations General Assembly The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; , AGNU or AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as its main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ. Currently in its Seventy-ninth session of th ...

recognised SWAPO as the 'sole legitimate representative' of Namibia's people. The Norwegian government began giving aid directly to SWAPO in 1974. The country of

Angola Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the west-Central Africa, central coast of Southern Africa. It is the second-largest Portuguese-speaking world, Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) country in both total area and List of c ...

gained its independence on 11 November 1975 following its war for independence. The leftist Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), supported by

Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...

and the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

, came to power. In March 1976, the MPLA offered SWAPO bases in Angola for launching attacks against the South African military.

Independent Namibia

When Namibia gained its independence in 1990, SWAPO became the dominant political party. Though the organisation rejected the term ''

'' and preferred to use ''Namibia'', the organisation's original name—derived from the territory's old name—was too deeply rooted in the independence movement to be changed. However, the original full name is no longer used; only the acronym remains. SWAPO, and with it much of Namibia's government and administration, continues to be dominated by the Ovambo ethnic group, despite "considerable efforts to counter

hat A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...

perception". SWAPO president Sam Nujoma was declared Namibia's first President after SWAPO won the inaugural election in 1989. A decade later, Nujoma had the constitution changed so he could run for a third term in 1999, as it limits the presidency to two terms. In 2004, the SWAPO presidential candidate was

Hifikepunye Pohamba Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba (born 18 August 1935) is a Namibian politician who served as the second president of Namibia from 21 March 2005 to 21 March 2015. He won the 2004 Namibian presidential election, 2004 presidential election overwhelming ...

, described as Nujoma's hand-picked successor. In 2014, the SWAPO presidential candidate was

, who was the vice-president of SWAPO. In 2019 presidential election, president Geingob won his second five-year term as Namibian president. SWAPO campaign vehicle

Ideology

SWAPO was founded with the aim of attaining the independence of Namibia and therefore is part of the African nationalist movement. Pre-independence it had a

socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...

, Marxist–Leninist ideology, a thinking that was not immediately abandoned when independence was achieved in 1990 and SWAPO became the ruling party. Officially, however, it adopted a

social democratic Social democracy is a Social philosophy, social, Economic ideology, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports Democracy, political and economic democracy and a gradualist, reformist, and democratic approach toward achi ...

ideology, until the electoral congress in 2017 approved the official change to

socialism Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...

with a "Namibian character", although some Namibians have labeled the change as lacking a "grass-roots" nature. Various commentators have characterised the politics of SWAPO in different ways. Gerhard Tötemeyer, himself a party member, considers its post-independence politics

neoliberal Neoliberalism is a political and economic ideology that advocates for free-market capitalism, which became dominant in policy-making from the late 20th century onward. The term has multiple, competing definitions, and is most often used pej ...

and

. Henny Seibeb, an opposition politician from the Landless People's Movement, describes the current party ideology as liberal nationalism with traces of " dogmatism,

authoritarianism Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the rejection of political plurality, the use of strong central power to preserve the political ''status quo'', and reductions in democracy, separation of powers, civil liberties, and ...

, and

statism In political science, statism or etatism (from French, ''état'' 'state') is the doctrine that the political authority of the state is legitimate to some degree. This may include economic and social policy, especially in regard to taxation ...

Structure

The party president is the top position of SWAPO; in 2012 this was held by Namibia's former president Pohamba. The vice-president was Namibia's former president

, who was elected to that position in 2007 and reconfirmed at the SWAPO congress in December 2012, until his death on 4 February 2024. The third highest position in SWAPO is the secretary-general, a position held in December 2012 by Nangolo Mbumba. Number four is the deputy secretary-general,

Omaheke Omaheke (the Otjiherero word for sandveld) is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia, the least populous region. Its capital is Gobabis. It lies in eastern Namibia on the border with Botswana and is the western extension of the Kalahari Desert. Th ...

governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua. Like many socialist and communist parties, SWAPO is governed by a

politburo A politburo () or political bureau is the highest organ of the central committee in communist parties. The term is also sometimes used to refer to similar organs in socialist and Islamist parties, such as the UK Labour Party's NEC or the Poli ...

and a central committee. The party leadership is advised by a youth league, a women's council, and an elders' council.

Politburo

The politburo of SWAPO is a body that consists of 29 members for the period 2022-2027 (including party president, former party president, secretary general, deputy secretary general, members appointed by the party president and members elected by the SWAPO central committee for the period). *

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (born 29October 1952), nicknamed NNN, is a Namibian politician who is the fifth and current president of Namibia since 21 March 2025. She is the country's first female president. Previously, she served as the th ...

* Sophia Shaningwa * Uahekua Herunga * Pohamba Shifeta * Lucia Witbooi * Frans Kapofi * Sirkka Ausiku * Charles Mubita * Lucia Iipumbu * Iipumbu Shiimi * Bernadette Jagger * Modestus Amutse * Laura McLeod-Katjirua * Veikko Nekundi * Kornelia Shilunga * Royal ǀUiǀoǀoo * Saara Kuugongelwa * Edward Wambo * Verna Sinimbo * Elia Kaiyamo * Hilma Nicanor * Hofni Iipinge * Paula Kooper * Erastus Uutoni * Anna Nghipondoka * Alpheus ǃNaruseb * Maria Elago * Steve Sensus Ovambo * Katrina Hanse-Himarwa * Sisa Namandje

Central Committee

SWAPO's Central Committee consists of: * The president * The vice-president * The secretary-general * The deputy secretary-general * The founding president of SWAPO as a permanent member * 13 SWAPO Party regional coordinators * 54 members elected at the party congress * 10 members appointed by the party president The 100 Central Committee members are: *

* Sophia Shaningwa * Uahekua Herunga * Lucia Witbooi * Iipumbu Shiimi * Loide Kasingo * John Mutorwa * Lucia lipumbu * Charles Mubita * Sirkka Ausiku * Frans Kapofi * Bernadette Jagger * Veikko Nekundi * Tuulikki Abraham * Nangolo Mbumba * Christine Haindaka * Alpheus ǃNaruseb * Hilma Nicanor * Willem Amutenya * Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila * Bonifatius Wakudumo * Ester Kavela * Pohamba Shifeta * Petrina Haingura * Neville Andre * Verna Sinimbo * Modestus Amutse * Maria Elago * Royal ǀUiǀoǀoo * Anna Nghipondoka * Tobie Aupindi * Paula Kooper * Edward Wambo * Loise Garosas * Peya Mushelenga * Evelyn ǃNawases-Taeyele * Austin Samupwa * Kornelia Shilunga * Festus Ueitele * Naemi Amuthenu * John Likando * Hilma lita * Usko Nghaamwa * Jenelly Matundu * Tjekero Tweya * Gaudentia Krohne * Sebastian Karupu * Fennie Nanyeni * Tommy Nambahu * Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana * John Elago * Katrina Liswani * Elia Kaiyamo * Silvia Makgone * Utoni Nujoma * Nono Katjingisiua * Salomon April * Easter Mokaxwa * Steve Sensus Ovambo * Laura McLeod-Katjirua * Samuel Mbambo * Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun * Hofni lipinge * Katrina Hanse-Himarwa * Erastus Uutoni * Coleen van Wyk * Obed Kandjoze * Sirkka Kapanga * Paulus Kapia * Emma Kantema-Gaomas * Marius Sheya * Lempy Lucas * Erginus Endjala * Laurencia Stephanus * Martin Shalli * Marlyn Mbakera * Sisa Namandje * Sharonice Busch * James Uerikua * Ephraim Tuhadeleni Nekongo * Fransina Kahungu * Muwaita Shanyengana * Phillemon Josua * Ottilie Shinduvi * Armas Amukwiyu * Moffat Sileze * Daniel Utapi Muhuura * Immanuel Namaseb * Joplin Gontes * Mathew Mumbala * Elliot Mbako * Julius Kaujova * Sackey Kayone * Werner Iita * David Hamutenya * Ruth Kaukuata-Mbura * Petrus Nevonga * Loide Shaanika * Bamba Nghipandua * Taimi Ileka

List of presidents

* Sam Nujoma (1960–2007) *

(2007–2015) *

(2015–2024)

Finances and business interests

Although SWAPO receives finances from government for its operations, the party also holds extensive business interests. Through Kalahari Holdings, it entered into

joint venture A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to acce ...

s with several companies, most prominently the Namibian branch of

MultiChoice MultiChoice is a South Africa, South African company that operates DStv, a major satellite television service in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company also operates GOtv Africa, GOtv, a minor satellite TV service operating in 9 countries, and Showmax, ...

, a private satellite TV provider, of which it owns 51%. Kalahari Holdings has further joint ventures with Radio Energy, Africa Online, and businesses in the tourism, farming, security services and health insurance sectors. It owns Namib Contract Haulage, Namprint, Kudu Investments and the Ndilimani Cultural Troupe. ''Namibia Today'' was the mouthpiece of the SWAPO, and Asser Ntinda was its editor. The paper does not appear to have been active since 7 April 2011 and closed down in 2015.

Human rights abuses

Various groups have claimed that SWAPO committed serious human rights abuses against suspected spies during the independence struggle. Since the early 21st century, they have pressed the government more strongly on this issue. Breaking the Wall of Silence (BWS) is one of the groups founded by people who were detained by SWAPO during the war and abused during interrogations. In 2004, BWS alleged that "In exile, hundreds of SWAPO dependants and members were detained, tortured and killed without trial." SWAPO denies serious infractions and claims anything that did happen was in the name of liberation. Because of a series of successful South African raids, the SWAPO leadership believed that spies existed in the movement. Hundreds of SWAPO cadres were imprisoned, tortured and interrogated.

Memberships

SWAPO is a full member of

Socialist International The Socialist International (SI) is a political international or worldwide organisation of political parties which seek to establish democratic socialism, consisting mostly of Social democracy, social democratic political parties and Labour mov ...

. It was a member of the

Non-Aligned Movement The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum of 121 countries that Non-belligerent, are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. It was founded with the view to advancing interests of developing countries in the context of Cold W ...

before the independence of Namibia in 1990.

Electoral history

Presidential elections

National Assembly elections

National Council elections

References

External links

* * Example SWAPO Party Youth League web page.

Secondary literature

* * An explainer of existing archives on SWAPO. {{DEFAULTSORT:Swapo 1960 establishments in South West Africa African and Black nationalist organizations in Africa Anti-apartheid organisations Decolonization Guerrilla organizations Left-wing parties Military history of Namibia National liberation armies National liberation movements Political parties established in 1960 Political parties in Namibia Rebel groups in Namibia Socialist International South West Africa