The Swapo Party Secretary-General, Sophia Shaningwa has urged voters in Okaku Constituency to vote for her party's candidate David Fillipus in the upcoming by-election on 17 March.

The by-election became necessary following the death of Swapo Councillor Gerson Hanu Kapenda last year. 

Swapo has been in control of the constituency since independence. 

Addressing a campaign at Iindangungu Village, Shaningwa says the party needs to win the constituency to ensure that they continue with the development programme in the constituency. 

 The recounting of the ballot papers for the Swapo Party's Central Committee has been put on hold, pending a decision by the top leadership.

This was confirmed to nbc News by returning officer Joshua Kaumbi a while ago.

The party's Secretary-General, Sophia Shaningwa, in a statement, directed Kaumbi to recount the votes last night in the presence of election observers.

She said the directive follows an election petition by some party members who questioned the process.

Swapo Party's Secretary-General, Sophia Shaningwa revealed to nbc news that there is no recount of the votes for the Party's Central Committee.

Shaningwa's response follows an announcement made by Dr Audrin Mathe on his Twitter page earlier today, stating that a manual recount would be done after some 'concerns' were raised by some party members.

Shaningwa, however, explained for ballots recounted, official communication has to be made through the office of the Secretary-General and that has not been done.

President Hage Geingob has urged the Swapo Party's rank and file to prepare for 2024 as the task ahead is heavy.

Dr. Geingob was elected unopposed as the Party President, while Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah retained her position as the Vice-President at the 7th Swapo Party Congress.

President Geingob has been consistent in the built-up to the seventh congress, saying that its outcome would be historical for the governing party, either in a female candidate or male candidate below the age of 60.

Swapo Party's Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged the delegates to the congress to remain focused during deliberations and use President Geingob's opening statement as an official guiding document.

The Swapo Party's central committee has finalized its five-year term report for deliberation during the congress.

According to the party's Secretary-General Sophia Shaningwa, this was among a number of preparations that the Party undertook to ensure the success of its elective congress.

Lawyers representing Jerry Ekandjo welcomed a decision to hold a Central Committee meeting to decide whether or not the veteran politician should be allowed to contest the Vice Presidential position at its elective congress next month.

This comes after Swapo Secretary-General Sophia Shaningwa called for a Special Central Committee this coming Friday.

Richard Metcalfe of Metcalfe Beukes Attorneys told nbc News that Ekandjo, as a disciplined politician, just wants the party to follow the Constitution and, as such, welcomes efforts to resolve the issue amicably.