Youth League pushes for expropriation of 194 farms

The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) has accused its mother party, Swapo, of deliberately dragging its feet by failing to implement a 2002 resolution to expropriate 194 farms belonging to absentee landlords. According to the youth wing’s secretary Elijah Ngurare, nothing will change in the new administration as was the trend in previous years. “Those blessed with an excuse will invent one to cover for our incompetence to deliver,” said Ngurare in a statement. He also criticised Parliament for prioritising and rushing through constitutional amendments, instead of responding to the needs of the electorate. He further accused Swapo of double standards where land was concerned. “The land issue is not new to Swapo and its youth league. It is therefore not sincere to pretend that comrades Job Amupanda, Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, and George Kambala have brought the party into disrepute over the matter,” he said, adding that the courage of these young men must be embraced. In November last year, Swapo suspended Amupanda, Nauyoma and Kambala from all party activities for illegally occupying a Kleine Kuppe plot. Amupanda, who dubbed his campaign ‘Affirmative Repositioning’ subsequently resigned as youth league spokesperson. He justified his resignation by saying: “One of the things I am clear about is owning myself. “It is a principle that is sacred to me, which I will never trade for anything even in difficult times.” At the time Ngurare refused to comment on the matter saying he was yet to apply his mind to it. When approached for comment, Swapo Secretary-General Nangolo Mbumba said Ngurare knows exactly who to speak to and where to find them. Deputy Lands Minister Theo Diergaardt is curently on sick leave and asked for a day or two to prepare a response. WINDHOEK JEMIMA BEUKES