THE newly elected Swapo secretary general, Nangolo Mbumba, will remain a Member of Parliament although he was relieved of his ministerial portfolio.

In President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday, Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko was transferred to Mbumba’s portfolio of Safety and Security.

During the past weekend’s Swapo congress a decision was taken that the position of the party secretary general would be a full-time appointment.

“My position in the National Assembly is not touched by my election as secretary general, as I was voted by the electorate into that position. However, I am not entitled to attend Cabinet meetings unless on the invitation of the President on a specific matter,” Mbumba told The Namibian.

An MP currently receives a monthly salary of about N$34 000 with medical aid and pension contributions that are deducted.

During the congress it was also decided that the party should strengthen the office of the secretary general, especially in the area of administration, management, human resources and information technology.

According to Mbumba he and the party leadership have to decide how to tackle this issue, adding that some people will have to be appointed to strengthen his hand.

“We cannot wait long. If the president made his changes so quickly we have to follow his example,” said Mbumba.

Some of organisational changes identified at the congress were a training programme for the party cadres and functionaries and to accelerate the finalisation and implementation of a code of conduct and disciplinary procedures.

The party also has to map out business and administrative processes and systems to clearly define the functional relationship between the Swapo secretariat, its regional structures and party wings.

Another issue that needs attention is to strengthen the party’s revenue through effective collection of membership fees.