SWAPO stands for the South West African People's Organization, the main political party of Namibia, a country in south-west Africa. Namibia used to be called South West Africa and was ruled by South Africa. SWAPO was formed in 1960 to fight that rule, first through politics and then through a long armed struggle, and when Namibia became independent in 1990 SWAPO won the first free elections and has governed the country ever since, winning again in 1994, 1999, 2004 and after. So the word covers two things at once: a liberation movement in its early years, and a governing party today — which is why in Namibian news you meet phrases like 'SWAPO's candidate' or 'the SWAPO government'. It is said as a word, 'SWAH-poh', not spelled out letter by letter, and it is always written in capitals. Treat it as singular: 'SWAPO has chosen its candidate.' The full name is now mostly historical, since the country changed its own name; people simply say SWAPO.