As Swapo members gear up to compete for parliamentary seats at the electoral college, known as “the pot”, information minister Emma Theofelus’ return to Parliament may face an obstacle.
Some within the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) are allegedly throwing spanners in her works.
Insiders in the SPYL claim that Theofelus’ path back to Parliament may be obstructed after the youth league’s national executive committee voted her out of the race.
Yesterday, she said, “I’m not aware, and have not received any communication.”
Essentially, the youth league is expected to send six qualified people (three men and three women) from their structures to the electoral college.
Nominations for the pot were opened, and Theofelus was allegedly among those nominated.
The names were then sent to the national executive committee (NEC) for consideration before being forwarded to the youth league’s central committee for the elections.
It is alleged that upon receiving the nominees at the NEC level, Theofelus was eliminated after the committee added two people to the list who were not originally nominated.
While the elimination is at the committee’s discretion, insiders believe he removal was biased and done to accommodate two other people.
“SPYL deputy secretary Christine Haindaka orchestrated this because Theofelus would be a threat to them at the pot,” claimed SPYL insiders.
They further alleged “many youth leaders are very angry about this news, feeling that the SPYL leadership is blocking competent youth leaders, including the youngest governor, Marius Sheya. The same youth who demanded empowerment were given a young minister, but are now blocking her return to Parliament. Shameful.”
Approached for comment, Haindaka refuted the claims, saying she does not entertain “street mongers”.
“Your source should have given you accurate information. How could I remove Emma? I’m not even the head of the youth league, and she is a woman like myself. How could I do that?” a seemingly perplexed Haindaka wanted to know.
SPYL spokesperson Moses Sikerete said he is unaware of the allegations, but mentioned that the youth league will soon call an extraordinary central committee meeting to address the selection of candidates for the pot.
“We are required to submit six names to the mother body. Nominations have been received from different regions
and individuals, and the central
committee will decide which six out of the 12 names will be selected,” he said.
Sikerete added that he is not aware of who has been nominated, or who was added later.
“It is premature for me to comment on rumours,” he said.
The electoral college is a Swapo indaba, typically held weeks before the polls, to decide on the list of 96 members who will stand as party candidates in the National Assembly.
Nominees for the pot are selected through various party structures such as the mother body, SPYL, the women’s council and others.
Over the years, it has been challenging for young people to make it to Parliament.
Those who do, often do so through presidential appointments.
At age 23, Theofelus became one of the fortunate few to ascend to a Cabinet position, appointed by late president Hage Geingob as the deputy minister of information in 2020.
After Geingob’s death, she, now 28,
was appointed by President Nangolo Mbumba to a ministerial position, becoming the youngest minister in the country.
Theofelus and her fellow young parliamentarian Patience Masua (25)
are currently the party’s youngest
MPs.
However, many young people in the SPYL feel that it may still be an uphill battle for more young people to make it to Parliament, as their opportunities are often constrained within party structures.
Youth leadership
However, it is not all doom and gloom for Theofelus.
In the event that Swapo emerges victorious in November, she might still be elected back to the National Assembly on the presidential card.
Political analyst Rui Tyitende said the young politician still stands a chance. However, he opined that young people’s political careers are closely aligned with senior figures in Swapo.
“Even if they want to be innovative, progressive and radical in advocating for youth issues, their hands are tied because whatever they say needs to speak to those who brought them in,” he said.
Tyitende believes that the likes of Theofelus don’t have political independence when it comes to policy innovation.
“They are somehow cornered because of the current system. It operates in the sense that you need to draw the line in terms of various policy positions that the party will take once the party is in power,” he said.
Tyitende said the likelihood of he
being rejected at the SPYL structures is inevitable due to complaints within the SPYL about her not coming through party structures before her appointment as deputy minister.
“They see her as not being part and parcel of the league; that is why she was not voted to go to the pot,” he added.
The electoral college will take place in November.