ONGWEDIVA: The fifth congress of the Swapo-Party Elders’ Council (SPEC), which ended at Ongwediva on Sunday, elected Colonel Fredrick Matongo as the new Secretary of SPEC, taking over from Kanana Hishoono.
Hishoono decided not to stand for re-election this time around, after he has been SPEC’s Secretary since 1992.
“There is time to come in and time to go out,” Hishoono, who is Elders’ Council’s second Secretary, mentioned while surrendering his former position to Matongo at the end of the congress on Sunday.
Hishoono told the congress delegates that he has been in the leadership of Swapo for the past 51 years and some 20 years as Secretary of SPEC.
As the second Secretary of SPEC, Hishoono took over from Simon Mzee Kaukungwa, the first Secretary of the Elders’ Council.
However, Hishoono remains a member of the Central Committee of SPEC after receiving the most votes of 151, together with Eunice Iipinge, during the elections of 26 members of the SPEC Central Committee.
Matongo, as the incoming Secretary, is going to be deputized by Nestor Mkwaita Shanyengana, who is President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s Special Advisor on Media.
“I am not your leader, but your servant. We should pull this wagon together,” Matongo, who has been a Swapo member since 1964, told his fellow SPEC members. He added that SPEC members remain proud of their Swapo-Party.
At the same time, Matongo expressed happiness that in the spirit of 50/50 women and men representation, the congress has elected 12 women to the Central Committee of SPEC, compared to 14 men.
The new Secretary of SPEC urged his comrades to put to their heart that serving the people of Namibia is what matters and not leadership positions in SPEC or the party.
Secretary-General of the Swapo-Party, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, closed the congress officially and suggested that the upcoming congress of the party’s mother-body emulates the SPEC example of putting up a trend of 50/50 women and men representation in the decision-making.
Iivula-Ithana then described SPEC as a wing with a history of keeping stability in the party. The Central Committee of SPEC will convene a meeting at a yet undetermined date to elect its 15 delegates for the congress of the party’s mother-body taking place towards then end of this year.
Matongo, Shanyengana, 26 elected members of the SPEC Central Committee, SPEC secretaries in all 13 regions and four members to be nominated by the Secretary of SPEC form up a 45-member Central Committee of SPEC.
(edited)ONGWEDIVA, 29 JUL (NAMPA) – The fifth congress of the Swapo-Party Elders’ Council (SPEC), which ended at Ongwediva on Sunday, elected Colonel Fredrick Matongo as the council’s new Secretary.
He is taking over the position from Kanana Hishoono, who decided not to stand for re-election as he had served in the position since 1992.
“There is a time to come in and a time to go out,” Hishoono, who was the Elders’ Council’s second Secretary, stated while handing over his former position to Matongo at the end of the congress on Sunday.
He told the delegates at the congress that he has been in the Swapo-Party leadership for the past 51 years, serving as Secretary of the SPEC for 20 years. The SPEC’s first Secretary was Simon Mzee Kaukungwa.
Hishoono however remains a member of the SPEC Central Committee after he received the most votes (151) along with Eunice Iipinge during the election of 26 members for the council’s Central Committee.
Matongo will be deputised by Nestor Mkwaita Shanyengana, who is President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s special advisor on media.
“I am not your leader, but your servant. We should pull this wagon together,” Matongo, who has been a Swapo-Party member since 1964, told his fellow SPEC members, adding that they should remain proud of their party.
At the same time, the new Secretary expressed his happiness with the fact that in the spirit of 50/50 female and male representation, the congress elected 12 women to the SPEC Central Committee, compared to 14 men.
He further told his fellow comrades that serving the people of Namibia, and not leadership positions in SPEC or the party, is what matters most.
Secretary-General of the Swapo-Party, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, officially closed the closed the congress and suggested that the upcoming congress of the party’s mother-body emulates the SPEC’s example of 50/50 representation of males and females in decision-making policies.
Iivula-Ithana then described the Elders’ Council as a wing with a history of keeping stability in the party. The SPEC Central Committee will convene a meeting at a yet undetermined date to elect its 15 delegates for the congress of the party’s mother-body, which takes place towards the end of the year.