Swapo youth will get their chance
Oshana Swapo coordinator Erastus Kapolo has offered his perspective on the generational change debate, saying youth leaders should wait for their turn to lead the ruling party.
Kapolo, however, believes there is a need to identify a pool of young leaders who can be groomed to take over from the current ageing generation.
He added that the current Swapo leaders were also young people who played a leading role during Namibia's liberation struggle and later moved up the ranks to be where they are today.
“The current leaders whom we say are old were also young at some stage and they were groomed,” he told Namibian Sun in a brief interview.
“There is nothing wrong with having a young leader provided that he is groomed and advocating for the implementation of the Swapo manifesto. Remember we are following the constitution of the party.”
The Swapo coordinator also said there was no anti-youth agenda within the ruling party.
Kapolo, however, expressed disappointment with the conduct of some young Swapo members. “They are calling us 'these old people' and 'idiots',” Kapolo said.
Kapolo explained that Swapo does not have an agenda against any individual because its constitution or manifesto does not have room for that, adding had it not been for Swapo, the youth would not have been educated to the extent they are today. “Swapo is not against the youth, we really support them and that is why we lobby for education for all and in fact we are having free education because we know the importance of an educated nation,” Kapolo said.
“The youth are the custodians and future leaders and they should follow in the footsteps of the elders who have seen things the youth have never seen… I personally fought with the gun and I was acting upon the instructions of the commanding chief, obeying what they were telling us.”
Swapo appears to be highly divided ahead of the elective congress in November this year that will elect a new leadership of the ruling party.
Acting party president Hage Geingob remains favourite to land the Swapo presidency on a fulltime basis.
Geingob took over in an acting capacity following the resignation of then president Hifikepunye Pohamba.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Kapolo, however, believes there is a need to identify a pool of young leaders who can be groomed to take over from the current ageing generation.
He added that the current Swapo leaders were also young people who played a leading role during Namibia's liberation struggle and later moved up the ranks to be where they are today.
“The current leaders whom we say are old were also young at some stage and they were groomed,” he told Namibian Sun in a brief interview.
“There is nothing wrong with having a young leader provided that he is groomed and advocating for the implementation of the Swapo manifesto. Remember we are following the constitution of the party.”
The Swapo coordinator also said there was no anti-youth agenda within the ruling party.
Kapolo, however, expressed disappointment with the conduct of some young Swapo members. “They are calling us 'these old people' and 'idiots',” Kapolo said.
Kapolo explained that Swapo does not have an agenda against any individual because its constitution or manifesto does not have room for that, adding had it not been for Swapo, the youth would not have been educated to the extent they are today. “Swapo is not against the youth, we really support them and that is why we lobby for education for all and in fact we are having free education because we know the importance of an educated nation,” Kapolo said.
“The youth are the custodians and future leaders and they should follow in the footsteps of the elders who have seen things the youth have never seen… I personally fought with the gun and I was acting upon the instructions of the commanding chief, obeying what they were telling us.”
Swapo appears to be highly divided ahead of the elective congress in November this year that will elect a new leadership of the ruling party.
Acting party president Hage Geingob remains favourite to land the Swapo presidency on a fulltime basis.
Geingob took over in an acting capacity following the resignation of then president Hifikepunye Pohamba.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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