Windhoek
Three Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) members are expected to appear before a disciplinary committee after recent Facebook comments, which fellow SPYL members likened to the infamous Nyamu notes.
Jesaya Nyamu penned his five infamous pages, which apparently sought to “destroy Swapo from within” and weaken the then new administration of former president Hifikepunye Pohamba, shortly before Nyamu and others were expelled from Swapo, whereafter they formed the Rally for Development and Progress (RDP).
The three members, whose writings are being compared to Nyamu’s are SPYL secretary for economic affairs Imms Nashinge, former secretary for labour Paulus Mbangu and Reinhold Shipwiikineni.
Acting SPYL secretary Veikko Nekundi said they have analysed the persistent and unbecoming behaviour of Nashinge, Mbangu and Shipwiikineni, despite the apologies they tendered to the central committee meeting of October 26, 2015 and resolved to refer the matter to the SPYL disciplinary committee.
Nekundi said this while briefing the media on the outcome of the central committee meeting held on Saturday. He said they would officially communicate with the trio today.
Nashinge reportedly wrote on his Facebook wall, where Mbangu supported him, stating: “We must move in the direction of a two-party system if we want to take our motherland to heights. The time is now. Dominant one-party system promotes complacency, arrogance and in some cases corruption, real corruption and looting.”
Nekundi further said the process of the disciplinary hearing would be finalised within three months.
“We’re seriously calling on all our members to internalise the SPYL and the Swapo Party constitution and related policies. We’re reminding our members that the youth league is a movement of disciplined cadres. We’re calling on our members to distinguish militancy from anarchism, calling on our members to distinguish between progressive revolutions from retrogressive revolutions,” he remarked.
Nashinge told New Era that he does not care, as he is done with politics.
“That’s why I didn’t attend the meeting. I’m busy with my family and studies. I’m not interested in Mickey Mouse things. It’s not relevant,” he told New Era.
He, however, said Nekundi should deal with his marital problems and book himself for a disciplinary hearing.
“If that (disciplinary hearing) will give him a peace of mind he must do whatever he wants. The organisation will be better off if he uses the knowledge he acquired from university, rather than victimising people.
“I’m a free thinker, am I not allowed to have my own views? What is wrong with that? Who is he to judge me? Who will judge him? It is Sunday and I’m trying to relax with my family. That organisation (Swapo) belongs to all of us, not only him,” Nashinge hit back, adding that hunger, poverty, looting, corruption and many other persistent problems need to be taken up at a disciplinary hearing.
Nekundi further said the central committee resolved that the New Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework (NEEEF) draft Bill would be revised and that the youth would be included as key stakeholders in the revision process.
“Although the purpose of the draft Bill is noble and worth pursuing, the Bill in its current format will absolutely not deliver anything for the Namibian youth,” he said.
Nekundi also said they were concerned that Ministry of Youth received the smallest chunk of the budget tabled last week.
“This is very serious, as our youth face quite a number of challenges that require the Ministry of Youth to deliver programmes, such as the construction of the National Sports Academy of Excellence, modern sports fields and recreational facilities in all our 121 constituencies.”
The CC also felt the education ministry should urgently consider entering into a public-private partnership agreement for the establishment of a school for the teaching profession.
The new school should have at least a minimum intake capacity of 500 teacher-students per annum. “This will assist to eliminate the shortage of teachers, as well as reduce the current higher teacher-learner ratio,” Nekundi said.
Nekundi further advised Namibian citizens to always buy Namibian products whenever possible, as this would assist in the creation of much-needed jobs, boost the local economy and eradicate poverty, especially among the youth.