Swapo women council lobby for female party VP

By Confidente Reporter
THE Swapo Women’s Council (SWC) is gunning to field a can­didate who would be the first woman to contest for the political par­ty’s vice president position, Confidente has learnt.
Confidente understands that some of the possible candidates that are being toyed with to contest the Swapo’s vice president position include current se­nior government officials, some who are part of the country’s presidency.
Confidente is informed that the SWC next month at its congress in Keetman­shop will discuss on fronting a female candidate for the position as part of Swapo’s zebra system to ensure more women representation in all positions in the party.
SWC’s secretary, Petrina Haingura, Tuesday told Confidente that it was high time women also start leading the party.
“Men and women need to agree that so far we have had three presidents that are men and so it’s also time now for us to lead,” Haingura said.
Haingura said it was of importance to the SWC that they promote and vote for fellow women.
“We need to promote other women as per the stipulations of the zebra style. I think it’s better for women to come up with one candidate and we rally behind that candidate.
Meanwhile, Haingura, confirmed yesterday that she will be vying to retain her SWC secretary position next month at the women’s congress.
She will be contesting against Sylvia Kandanga and Eunice Ipinge.
“The congress is there next month in Keetmanshoop. It will be held from December 7-10. Everything is ready, people are already busy campaigning. About 700 delegates are expected to at­tend the congress. People are now ma­ture they lobby for votes in a dignified manner,” she said.
The Swapo party amended its con­stitution in 2013 where it adopted the 50/50 representation of men and wom­en in its party organs and structures.
Although the party has adopted the zebra system and the number of women in senior positions in Parliament and Cabinet has increased Swapo and Gov­ernment have so far failed to religiously adhere to the zebra system.
Out of the 104 members of the Na­tional Assembly only 48 percent are women while in the National Council out of 42 members only 10 are women.