Swapo Party Women’s Council (SPWC) secretary Fransina Kahungu appears poised to lead the women’s wing for another five-year term. She was nominated unopposed at the SPWC extraordinary central committee meeting held on 19 September. The announcement was made by SPWC assistant secretary for research, information and programmes Ruthy Masake during a media briefing in Windhoek. Kahungu has been leading the women’s council since 2022.
The SPWC ninth congress, scheduled for 9 to 11 December 2027 at Katima Mulilo, will formally vote on the leadership nominations. Masake stated that the nomination process adhered to the rules, procedures and constitutional provisions governing the elections. Maria Mukano-Ntusi was also nominated as Kahungu’s deputy. Masake expressed confidence in the two leaders and urged women to maintain unity and discipline as the party approaches its congress.
Masake emphasized that the women’s council is built around service, responsibility, consultation and commitment to the organisation. She encouraged members to manage disagreements through dialogue and respect for the party’s structures and principles. Masake called on branches, sections and members to strengthen the work of the women’s council, stressing that leadership should focus on serving communities and building bridges.
Reflecting on her tenure, Kahungu highlighted training programmes aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and their ability to coordinate with government institutions, constituencies and local authorities. The council supported initiatives focused on job creation and community projects, with regional structures identifying projects that received assistance from the national office.
Kahungu noted that the women’s council played a significant role in mobilising voters for Namibia’s first woman president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and contributed to the development of the Swapo manifesto. The council also focused on grooming young leaders who could serve both within the party and the government.
One of the initiatives was a training programme that trained about 66 people. Projects across all 14 regions received support from the national office. Kahungu’s leadership and the council’s efforts have been acknowledged, with Masake calling for continued unity and constructive engagement as the party approaches its congress.
The upcoming congress will bring together delegates to formally elect the new leadership. With Kahungu set to return for another term, she will continue to build on the council’s achievements, including supporting community projects and promoting women’s leadership. Key initiatives will likely focus on sustaining momentum and furthering the party’s goals.
Key points
- Kahungu was nominated unopposed for a fifth-year term as SPWC secretary.
- The SPWC ninth congress is scheduled for 9 to 11 December 2027 at Katima Mulilo.
- Kahungu has led the women’s council since 2022 and has focused on training programmes and community projects.
