The South West Africa People's Organization, SWAPO, is a political party and former liberation movement in Namibia. 

Founded 62 years ago, it has been the governing party since the country achieved independence in 1990. 

The party is scheduled to have its 7th congress this weekend, as more than 700 party stalwarts are expected to decide Swapo's leadership for the next five years.
 
The delegates are drawn from all 121 constituencies, representing different party wings and affiliates. 
Dr Sam Nujoma was declared Namibia's first President after SWAPO won the first free and fair elections in 1989, paving the way for a new democratic and free society.
 
Nujoma then stayed at the helm of the party for 15 years and stepped down at the end of his last term.
 
Having transitioned from a liberation movement to a political party, SWAPO decided to embrace a democratic process to elect new leadership after every five years. 

In 2004, the party elected the then minister of Land Resettlement and Rehabilitation Hifikepunye Pohamba, as vice president of the party. 

Subsequently, he went on to become Namibia's second president.
  
Like other systems, democracy is not perfect but it is regarded by many as being better than its alternatives.

SWAPO has seen its fair share of internal democratic challenges, which divided the party and caused friction after previous congresses. 

As a consequence, many have been wondering how this congress is different from those that were held previously. 

Indications are that the party has not only changed its modus operandi in the way candidates campaign, but the tradition of the incumbent endorsing one candidate also ended with Pohamba, provoking mixed feeling amongst party members.

In what appears to be an effort to unite the party members and address the past challenges caused by the congress, President Hage Geingob decided not to endorse any candidate and a directive was given for candidates to limit their campaign to delegates and to keep a clean campaign.

But one may ask, why are we looking at this congress differently? 

The position of the Vice President is contested between Swapo deputy vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Environment and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta. 
 
If the country's history is anything to rely on, whoever emerges victorious, will stand as Swapo candidate in 2024 and is likely to become the fourth president of the country. 

That is why this gathering is a big deal or at least it should be to all Namibians.
 
 Apart from the vice-president's position, other portfolios being contested are those of the secretary general, with incumbent Sophia Shaningwa taking on the party's Oshikoto coordinator Armas Amukwiyu.
 
As for the deputy Secretary General position, the contestants are former Cabinet minister Uahekua Herunga, Kavango West Swapo coordinator David Hamutenya and former Swapo Chief Whip in the National Assembly Evelyn !Nawases-Tayele. 

The Central Committee is the party's highest decision-making body between congresses and new members will be elected at the congress.
 
The 14 regions will each dispatch a contingent of 10 representatives to congress.
 
The Swapo Party Women's Council will send 20 delegates, while the Swapo Elders Council will deploy 16 cadres.
 
Equally, the Swapo Party Youth League will be represented at the congress by a 16-member delegation.
 
The National Union of Namibian Workers and newly- established Former Plan Combatants' Association will also send 16 delegates each.