Namibia in new era Swapo in decline

THE results of the latest regional and local government elections in Namibia show just how much the political landscape has changed in the country since independence from South Africa in 1990.

The South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) – the former liberation movement that has governed the country since independence – used to win by huge margins. But increasingly, Namibians are losing trust in its ability to run the country. They are making different political choices.

For the first time, Swapo suffered numerous defeats at regional and local levels of government in elections held last month. The loss of control over several