Swapo Party President Dr. Hage Geingob has urged Namibians to shift their focus to achieving socio-economic emancipation.
Geingob said this at the commemoration of the party's 63rd anniversary at Grootfontien in Otjozondjupa Region.
Geingob says the Swapo Party has been hard at work to ensure equal rights for all citizens as well as equitable access to health, education, food, and security for all.
"Therefore, as we celebrate 63 years of the successful existence of the Swapo Party, we should embrace our glorious history as a successful liberation movement. When you have a glorious history, you should not be ashamed. Some of them are ashamed because their history is not good at all. Facts are facts, and history is history. It cannot be changed. We should not be ashamed of our glorious history and the continued confidence we enjoy from the Namibian people. We should celebrate our gains as the governing party in Namibia, which we liberated through our sweat and our blood. We liberated Namibians to ensure a life of dignity for each and every citizen."
Dr. Geingob also highlighted some of the achievements of the Swapo Party government.
"The past 63 years of our history, which we are marking today, are a testament to our longevity as a revolutionary movement. We have covered a long and eventful path by winning the trust and respect of the majority of Namibians. In this Year of Revival, I charge you to go back to your districts, to your branches, and to your regions to mobilize Namibians to continue rallying behind the Swapo Party. You must stand tall as patriots of a movement that liberated Namibia. You must stand tall as comrades in the movement that brought unity and development to the Namibian people. No surrender!"
The President further urged Namibians to vote for the party's presidential candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in next year's elections.
Otjozondjupa Swapo Regional Coordinator, Imms Namaseb, informed those gathering that unity is now prevailing in the Grootfontien district after unrelenting infighting among leaders.
"I would like to assure the Swapo leadership that come 2024, in national and presidential elections, we will be counted. Otjozondjupa will be counted and ranked as one of the top performers during those elections. We are quite sure. We are united, and I can guarantee that, comrade President. I have been here for the whole week. We had meetings with all the people that are involved in Swapo structures, and I can report to you that I am very happy for Grootfontien."
The party's 63rd anniversary was also attended by guests from Cuba, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Tanzania.