SWAPO /ˈswɑːpəʊ/ BrE AmE abbreviation for
the South-West Africa People’s Organization; a political party which is the party of government in Namibia (formerly called South West Africa). When Namibia finally gained its independence from South Africa, SWAPO won the first free elections there in 1989, and won power again in the 1994,1999, and 2004 elections.