WINDHOEK – Despite differing on who should lead Nanso as president at the recently held congress, National Youth Council (NYC) executive chairperson, Mandela Kapere says the cordial relationship enjoyed by the two organisations will not change.
Alleged political pressure and interference in congress matters saw factions of the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) support different candidates, amid an exchange of accusations and counter-accusations.
“I do not anticipate the relationship between Nanso and NYC to change because of the congress. I have a good relationship with Wilhelem [newly-elected Nanso president] and we have done several good things together. I have a balanced approach on how I perform my duties and it will remain as such,” Kapere said.
He supported Sharonice Busch for the Nanso congress at the heated congress last weekend. Busch withdrew from the race at the eleventh hour.
Kapere further urged Nanso members to iron out their differences within the organisation.
After the congress, a Nanso source told New Era that he feared that the strained relationship between NYC and Nanso following the outcome of the congress could result in student issues being side-lined if factions continue with infightings.
“Of course, things were said in the media and on social networks but as a veteran in this line of work some of us do not take these things personally,” Kapere said.
“We must remember that Nanso is an affiliate of the NYC and its offices are based within NYC’s headquarters, how will they work together if they do not iron out their differences?” asked the source.
Kapere, who also serves as a SPYL central committee member and is a former Nanso president, says the student movement has been steadily improving over the last three years.
A faction sympathetic to suspended SPYL members and founders of the Affirmative Repositioning movement such as Dimbulukeni Nauyoma and Job Amupanda rallied behind the eventual winner Wilhelem Wilhelem. Nauyoma was elected as Nanso’s secretary general.
Stanley Kavetu was elected vice-president, while Herman Rutz will take charge of Nanso’s financial affairs.
“Student issues were not even discussed at the congress, everyone was just focused on the elections,” a clearly disappointed source said.
“The clear division between NYC and Nanso portrays a bad image regarding maturity in youth politics in Namibia. At the congress SPYL held a braai dishing out meat to delegates to vote for their candidates but nobody complained so why could others not campaign freely if they wanted to? I just hope they [Nanso and NYC] end the bad blood for the sake of the youth.”