Wanting change is our crime - APP youth
Three suspended All People's Party (APP) youth, including youth wing leader Sebastian Ntjamba, say their only crime is attempting to fight for change in the party.
“We are calling for change, we want to diversify the party,” he said, while addressing a media conference last Friday.
Ntjamba, Hendrick Haikera and Kaghugongo Shingereshu are still waiting for news on when their disciplinary hearing will be held.
“When we were trying to question, they regarded it as being disrespectful. It is our right to stand up. When we stand up we are accused of being disrespectful and vulgar. Up to now we have never received any call from our leadership and that is worrying us,” Haikera said.
APP secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu is yet to start the disciplinary process, despite issuing suspension letters to the trio.
They stand accused of insulting the party's leadership, a claim they have denied.
The trio have acknowledged receiving suspension letters from Kanyetu, but said their suspensions were unfair.
“We don't know when the hearing will be. They are oppressing us,” said Ntjamba.
Kanyetu said the trio would undergo a disciplinary process in due course.
“There is a process, they need to be patient. I will be forwarding their charges to them. What is left now is for the party to appoint a committee. By the end of August everything will be done,” said Kanyetu.
He said that if he was the suspended leaders, he would not even bother holding a media conference.
“They were suspended based on their conduct, attitude and remarks towards the leadership and the party at large. They are calling the leadership of the party, including the president, useless, saying they were going to take over,” Kanyetu said at the time he announced the suspensions.
He added the “useless” remarks against the leadership were made in a public space and in front of party supporters.
“They always have a problem with the decisions taken by the president. There is no problem with differing with each other, but when you attach personal attacks to an individual, like calling your president useless in the presence of supporters, it is not acceptable,” Kanyetu added.
OGONE TLHAGE
“We are calling for change, we want to diversify the party,” he said, while addressing a media conference last Friday.
Ntjamba, Hendrick Haikera and Kaghugongo Shingereshu are still waiting for news on when their disciplinary hearing will be held.
“When we were trying to question, they regarded it as being disrespectful. It is our right to stand up. When we stand up we are accused of being disrespectful and vulgar. Up to now we have never received any call from our leadership and that is worrying us,” Haikera said.
APP secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu is yet to start the disciplinary process, despite issuing suspension letters to the trio.
They stand accused of insulting the party's leadership, a claim they have denied.
The trio have acknowledged receiving suspension letters from Kanyetu, but said their suspensions were unfair.
“We don't know when the hearing will be. They are oppressing us,” said Ntjamba.
Kanyetu said the trio would undergo a disciplinary process in due course.
“There is a process, they need to be patient. I will be forwarding their charges to them. What is left now is for the party to appoint a committee. By the end of August everything will be done,” said Kanyetu.
He said that if he was the suspended leaders, he would not even bother holding a media conference.
“They were suspended based on their conduct, attitude and remarks towards the leadership and the party at large. They are calling the leadership of the party, including the president, useless, saying they were going to take over,” Kanyetu said at the time he announced the suspensions.
He added the “useless” remarks against the leadership were made in a public space and in front of party supporters.
“They always have a problem with the decisions taken by the president. There is no problem with differing with each other, but when you attach personal attacks to an individual, like calling your president useless in the presence of supporters, it is not acceptable,” Kanyetu added.
OGONE TLHAGE
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