Swapo party youth league (SPYL) secretary for economic affairs, Marius Sheya, has reacted angrily at his removal from his SPYL position, saying he is not hungry for power, nor is he going to sue the party he loves, despite his “unprocedural” removal from the position.
In a statement last week, SPYL secretary Ephraim Nekongo announced Sheya’s removal from the youth wing secretary for economic affairs position, saying the decision to remove him was made at a central committee meeting by the SPYL national executive committee, at Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa region.
“I do not seek to contest the position of secretary of the Swapo youth league and nor am I power hungry, despite my unprocedural removal for vexatious reasons, I also do not wish to litigate against the party which I have served since my pioneer days and will continue to serve,” Sheya said in a strongly worded letter to Nekongo last week.
“I have been treated in a manner that is both un-comradely and unconstitutional. I am not a victim, but a victor and I don’t fall for pity politics, hence I call upon all central committee members to promote unity and the collective interest of the SPYL above personal ambition and agendas,” he added.
He said a decision in accordance with the constitution of the SPYL was not taken, but instead, only a motion was tabled and seconded, which must still be decided upon by the SPYL central committee.
He said the national executive committee (NEC) must appreciate that a mere secondment does not imply a two-thirds majority neither does the constitution mandate a counter motion.
Equally, Sheya, who is the Kunene governor, said the NEC should appreciate that the decision of any member to abstain has a direct implication on the motion’s ability to reach a two-thirds majority.
In addition, he said, upon a motion being tabled for the vote of no confidence of a member of the NEC, in line with the rules of natural justice, encapsulated and entrenched in Article 18 of the Namibian Constitution, the affected member should not only be provided with reasons for such motion but indeed be afforded an opportunity to respond to this motion and make submissions as to why it should not be passed.
“This was not the case as the motions were submitted and purportedly passed in my absence, as previously indicated. To this date, I have not been officially informed of the charge, or decision taken against me,” he said in the letter also copied to Swapo president Hage Geingob and party secretary general Sofia Shaningwa.