Youth league congress challenged
Aggrieved Swapo Party Youth League members have petitioned the party's central committee over alleged irregularities at the sixth SPYL elective congress held at Katima Mulilo last month.
The petition was signed by 17 members and is addressed to the Swapo Party Politburo.
It claims that there was no justice or fairness at the congress.
“The congress was not properly constituted, not held in free and fair atmosphere; hence, we demand the nullification of the whole congress and urge the upholding of the constitution to the letter and spirit,” the petition reads.
Swapo secretary-general Nangolo Mbumba confirmed receipt of the petition, saying it would be forwarded to the party's central committee.
According to the party members, high-ranking police officers confirmed that they had been given a list of names of people to be targeted throughout the congress.
“A case in point: Imms Nashinge was removed from the venue on day two of the congress because he had a cellphone whilst others had their phones inside the venue. It was purported that there was a decision that no cellphones were allowed in the congress, but the congress ground rules made no mention of prohibition of cellphones,” the petition states.
The members claim that those allowed to carry cellphones included Mandela Kapere, Muesee Kazapua, Veikko Nekundi, Neville Iitope, and Milo Iipinge.
Nekundi, the outgoing SPYL secretary, was replaced by Ephraim Nekongo.
Christine Haindaka was elected deputy secretary.
“Are they more Swapo members? The question is who ordered the police? Was it State House or the Swapo headquarters, and under what article of the party constitution was this done?”
The disgruntled members further expressed “grave” concern over the so-called “new Swapo” that reportedly disrespects the party constitution.
“It has now become a trend, so bad that many regions did not present financial reports at regional conferences. Congress itself did not even discuss any financial position or a financial report despite the party having spent so much on the wings annually.
“Those who dared to question and demand financial reports were blocked from attending the congress and others threatened to be removed from the venue for being out of topic.”
The group further alleged that Haindaka, who is from Kavango West, and central committee member Mirjam Nghidipo, who is from Khomas, attended the congress as delegates of the Epukiro and Kamanjab districts, respectively.
“This is a violation of the Swapo Party constitution,” they claimed.
The petition was signed by 17 members and is addressed to the Swapo Party Politburo.
It claims that there was no justice or fairness at the congress.
“The congress was not properly constituted, not held in free and fair atmosphere; hence, we demand the nullification of the whole congress and urge the upholding of the constitution to the letter and spirit,” the petition reads.
Swapo secretary-general Nangolo Mbumba confirmed receipt of the petition, saying it would be forwarded to the party's central committee.
According to the party members, high-ranking police officers confirmed that they had been given a list of names of people to be targeted throughout the congress.
“A case in point: Imms Nashinge was removed from the venue on day two of the congress because he had a cellphone whilst others had their phones inside the venue. It was purported that there was a decision that no cellphones were allowed in the congress, but the congress ground rules made no mention of prohibition of cellphones,” the petition states.
The members claim that those allowed to carry cellphones included Mandela Kapere, Muesee Kazapua, Veikko Nekundi, Neville Iitope, and Milo Iipinge.
Nekundi, the outgoing SPYL secretary, was replaced by Ephraim Nekongo.
Christine Haindaka was elected deputy secretary.
“Are they more Swapo members? The question is who ordered the police? Was it State House or the Swapo headquarters, and under what article of the party constitution was this done?”
The disgruntled members further expressed “grave” concern over the so-called “new Swapo” that reportedly disrespects the party constitution.
“It has now become a trend, so bad that many regions did not present financial reports at regional conferences. Congress itself did not even discuss any financial position or a financial report despite the party having spent so much on the wings annually.
“Those who dared to question and demand financial reports were blocked from attending the congress and others threatened to be removed from the venue for being out of topic.”
The group further alleged that Haindaka, who is from Kavango West, and central committee member Mirjam Nghidipo, who is from Khomas, attended the congress as delegates of the Epukiro and Kamanjab districts, respectively.
“This is a violation of the Swapo Party constitution,” they claimed.
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