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POLITICAL EDUCATION NECESSARY FOR SPYL MEMBERS
By
Dr. T. Elijah Ngurare
Secretary of SWAPO Party Youth League
To begin with, there is a lot of consciousness amongst the Namibian youth regarding the SWAPO Party Youth League (SPYL) and particularly the role it played in mobilizing the Namibian youth to vote for the SWAPO Party in the 1999, 2004 and the 2009 National Assembly and Presidential Elections respectively. The bornfrees who were mobilized through politainment are a case in point. During the liberation struggle, SWAPO Youth League (SYL) provided the necessary energy to the armed liberation struggleunder the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). It is thus our natural expectation that after independence on 21st March 1990, the SPYLmust equally provide the necessary momentum in the war under the “People’s Economic Liberation Army of Namibia” (PELAN). Indeed, the Resolutions of the 2002 and 2007 SPYL Congresses are clear on the need for economic empowerment amongst the Namibian youth under our generational agenda “Youth Empowerment and Development, Rural Development and Genuine Economic Empowerment in all 13 Regions and 107 Constituencies”. It is expected therefore that members and leaders of SPYL at the Sections, Branches, Districts, Regions and National Executive Committee as SPYL structures must ensure continuing advocacy of the above in order for the SWAPO Party Government to implement the same including under TIPEEG programme. Further, the members and leaders of SPYL, collectively and individually, must ensure that the Constitutional “Aims and Objectives of SPYL” as well as the Tasks and Challenges are implemented, without fail.
However, instead of pursuing the above-stated “youth agenda” a “selected” few youth leaders have allowed themselves to be used in the advancement of personal interests of some “elders” in the SWAPO Party and its Government. It will be recalled that prior to the Central Committee meeting of SPYL in May this year (2011), some “remote controlled youth leaders” were “hired” for this assignment and they travelled throughout the country to buy support to “oust Ngurare”. A day before the Central Committee they were treated to a “delicious dinner” with such specific instructions by their “sender”. They arrived at the Central Committee with a “faxed document” which they read as proof that “Ngurare violated the SPYL Constitution” by inter alia replacing “Natangwe Ithete with Piet van Der Walt” on the list to Parliament. The truth is that there was an internal election where Piet van Der Walt scored 7 points and Ithete scored 2 points. Unfortunately, therefore, these remote controlled “youth leaders” were numerically and ideologically outnumbered because they were thrown in the lion’s den without preparation and clear understanding of the SPYL Constitution and how SPYL membership operates.
Also interesting is that during the National Executive Committee and CC meetings some leaders of SPYL sit there and participate in decisions, just as it was the case in the decision to appoint the assistants to NEC departments. Immediately, after such meetings, however, they revert to the “Political Owling Campaign” namely they operate in the night just like owls in their gossip camps and run to the media and “distance themselves from the decision that they participated in taking”. They join in condemning such decisions through the media when they had all the necessary time and opportunities to question, reject or air their views in meetings when resolutions are made. It is unbecoming for leaders to excrete such level ofdouble standards when it is convenient for them. In the same light some NEC and CC members opt to stay away from meetings and blame those present specifically “for misleading dictating and the list go on”. One wonders why don't they attend such meetings to ensure that decisions are taken with their full participation? The blame game have become the order of the day and pointing fingers have become the best way to go: the question remains, doesthis help in anyway in addressing the plight of the youth of Namibia?
Regrettably, instead of addressing the plight of the youth, some SPYL leaders have become “convenient spices” to the Party’s boiling pot of succession which is so far very divisive in all aspects. It was said no debate of succession on “facebook” but only in “Party structures” but now the discussions and campaigns are taking place in hotels, on foreign trips, in the media, and an alleged campaign fund for the same purpose has recently been set up but conveniently some media houses are conspicuous in their silence over these matters but are quick to publish rumours from anonymous source (insiders). The “campaign managers” are even claiming to be doing, it all, on behalf of the Founding President and the Head of State. As a result, state resources are being used to buy favours and not to mention the Cabinet and foreign missions positions already being promised to all and sundry. We respect our senior leaders, no doubt, but we respect the structures of the Party and the Aims and Objectives thereof more, because the latter will outlive us all. Let no leader of SWAPO impose his or her will on the structures of the Party; but rather allow structures to express themselves unhindered. It is in this context that the Politburo should seriously consider the possibility of selecting acandidate (s) separate from the current Top 4 to succeed H.E. Dr. Hifikepunye Pohamba when his term ends, at government level that is. This I believe will be in the long-term interest of the SWAPO Party and Namibia.
This will also assist in re-directing “the remote controlled youth leaders” who are back to the newspapers as (“insiders”). After all, to be an anonymous source in the newspaper does not mean that you are not known, the newspapers referred to them as “insiders”, rightly so. This time they have been joined by an employee at the Party headquarters who has been posting on his facebook profile describing the new appointees as “Ngurare’s puppets or shadow cabinet” and the same phraseology was mimicked by The Namibian newspaper story on the same. This employee also posted on his facebook profile a semblance of being a UDF sympathizer in regards the Daures Constituency whilst drawing a salary from the SWAPO Party. It should be made clear that this particular SWAPO employee cannot compare with the leadership credentials of the new Assistants, put simply, this UDF sympathizer in our midst (“the insider”) does not even belong to a Section of either the Party or SPYL.
It is in view of the above developments, that I deemed it necessary to write this opinion piece in order to give some Political Education to the above “remote controlled youth leaders” and may be also their “handler” and for the benefit of members of SPYL, in general, who need a comprehensive understanding of how SWAPO Party Youth League is structured and operate, constitutionally. SPYL operates through constitutional Aims and Objectives both of SWAPO Party and SPYL. That is to say for a Namibian youth to qualify to become a member or leader of SPYL, he/she must accept and adhere to both SWAPO Party and SPYL’s Aims and Objectives.
The Constitution of SPYL under Article 2 states that “SPYL serves as an active, revolutionary, and militant transmitting belt of the SWAPO Party ideology, policies and programmes” and amongst its Aims and Objectives include “to be vigilant and constantly combat all forms and tendencies of nepotism, favoritism, moral decay, tribalism, individualism, corruption, racism, regionalism and all reactionary conduct among the youth in the Namibian society”. And to “inculcate in the youth, a patriotic spirit, hard work, self reliance, respect and love for cultural values and traditions, and the need to be willing catalyst in the process of nation building and the creation of anon-exploitative, non-oppressive and democratic society”.
Members and leaders of SPYL, at all levels, must articulate the foregoing provision. There are three types of membership for SPYL namely Individual Membership, Pioneer Membership and Honourary Membership. A member of SPYL is granted under Article 7 with Rights and Obligations whereas Article 8 defines the specific rights for HonouraryMembers. The structures of SPYL are a follows: SWAPO Pioneer Movement (members are from 6 years of age and not attained the age of 18 years), The Section (to be established at such places as factories, farms, schools, hospitals, military unit and residential areas), Branch Executive Committee, District ExecutiveCommittee and Regional Executive Committee. The National Organs of SPYL arethree namely: The Congress, The Central Committee and the National Executive Committee and all the national organs are chaired by the Secretary of SWAPOParty Youth League. The Congress elects the Central Committee and the Central Committee elects the National Executive Committee. The National Executive Committee “is responsible for policy formulation in between Central Committee meetings” as per Art. 12 (2) of the SPYL Constitution.
All members of the NEC are obliged to attend meetings thereof and a simple majority takes its decisions including the recent decision to appoint assistants to NEC departments. Article 13 of theSPYL Constitution defines the duties and functions of SPYL’s national office bearers who are: The Secretary; Deputy Secretary; Secretary for Finance andAdministration; Secretary for Information, Publicity and Mobilisation; Secretary for International Affairs; Secretary for Labour and Justice; Secretary for Education, SWAPO Pioneer Movement and Culture; Secretary for Economic Affairs; and Secretary for Health, Population and Environment.
As Chairperson of Central Committee and National Executive Committee, I have regularly written a number of letters/circulars to remind the Departments to perform the Constitutional mandate competently and uniformly. Only a very few have honoured these requests especially Economic Affairs as well as Finance and Administration. In fact any fundraising or successful major events of SPYL, it is primarily made possible by the hard work and commitment of these two departments above as well as SPYL volunteers including those who are now appointed as Assistants. Some NEC leaders appear to regard their SPYL positions just a mere decoration for a well paid job in government and never even visit the Headquarters for that matter now that they have become Honourable Members of Government etc, but are active in gossiping and rumour mongering instead ofcarrying themselves as exemplary national leaders.
The general membership of SPYL is aware that many of those who are claiming to be CC members this or that did not become CC members because they are special or hard working but rather because of special considerations which was supported by some of those we have appointed as “Assistants” to NEC departments. Today someone wants us to believe that they are CC members because they are children of ministers or that their parents were freedom fighters. Unfortunately this alone is not a criterion for SPYL membership or leadership.
The Constitution of SPYL further stipulates that each NEC Department “undertake research on laws, policies and programmes” and on that basis each Department has been requested to come up with PolicyPaper as per the Constitution of SPYL. Only the Department of Finance and Administration, Department of Economic Affairs and the Department of International Affairs have so far drafted something to that effect. Constitutionally, NECSecretaries are expected to inter alia do the following:
On Finance
“He or she shall undertake research on laws, policies and programmes affecting finance, trade and investments with the view to advising SPYL and its members” [Art. 13(3)(d)].
On Information
“He or she shall undertake research on laws, policies and programmes affecting information and publicity with the view to advising SPYL and its members” [Article 13(4)(g)]. And Section (h) provides that “he or she shall ensure that an information bulletin covering activities and developments with SPYL, SWAPO Party Women’s Council, SWAPO Party Elders Council, SWAPO Party, Africa and the world, is printed and distributed”.
On International Affairs
“He or she shall undertake research on laws, policies and programmes affecting international relations with the view to advising SPYL and its members” [Article 13 (5)(f)]” and Section (g) provides that “he or she shall advise the National Executive Committee on new developments taking place in Africa and the world, and recommend the positions to be taken by SPYL.”
On Labour and Justice
“He or she shall undertake research on laws, policies and programmes affecting labour and legal matters with the view to advising SPYL and its members” [Article 13 (6) (c)]. Section (b) provides that “he or she shall be responsible for gathering, analyzing, publishing and disseminating information on labour and legal matter in and outside Namibia. Section (g) adds that “he or she shall at all times analyse the opinions, concerns and requirements of the workers inNamibia and make proposals to SPYL as to measures to be adopted so as to improve the situation of workers and labour relations”.
On Education
“He or she shall undertake research on laws, policies and programmes affecting education and training with the view to advising SPYL and its members” [Article 13(7)(h)]. Section (d) provides that “he or she shall be responsible for the promotion of the country’s advancement in science and technology”. While Section (g) adds that “he or she shall work towards the establishment of a youth educational fund to assist SPYL members”.
On Economic Affairs
“He or she shall undertake research on laws, policies and programmes on the economy, industry and trade with the view to advising SPYL and its members”. [Article 13(8)(c)].
On Health
“He or she shall undertake research on laws, policies and programmes affecting health, the environment and the population with the view to advising SPYL and its members”[Article 13(9)(c)]. Under Section (e) “he or she shall promote among the youth, environmental awareness and the protection, preservation and the sustainable use and management of Namibia’s environment.”
In other words, the Assistants so appointed, are to assist in the implementation of the above cited Constitutional mandate and we are happy that they have the vigor and determination to serve the interest of SPYL, without fear or favour. And also as per the Constitution of SPYL, the assistants should also assist in the realization of the Tasks and Challenges facing the SPYL and the Namibian youth in general, which as per the Constitution include:
“the defence and consolidation of the hard-won independence, which entails protection of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Namibia; the promotion of social, political andeconomic development and the norms, values and practices under the banner of solidarity, freedom and justice; to assist the SWAPO Party to become and remain a strong political force directing progressive policies and programmes towards a developed, fair and just society; the promotion of the ideals of equality for all and social justice based upon the principles of scientific socialism; to promote constantly access to employment, education, medical care and legal protection for the youth of Namibia; the promotion of the principles of anti-imperialist solidarity, peace and stability in Africa and the world; to maintain historical links and also establish new ones with other progressive international youth and student movements”.
Once again, to actualize these stipulated tasks and challenges, requires and demand a high degree of organizational management and sustainable strategies especially by NEC Departments on the basis of which SPYL must as per the Constitution “summon the skills and knowledge of its members to set up appropriate SPYL’s administrative machinery, applying modern methods and techniques of management and administration to ensure the realization of the aims and objectives of the youth wing and that of the SWAPO Party”.
Finally, the Constitution of SPYL obligates all of us as members and leaders of SPYL “to act with dedication and commitment and in the interest of the SPYL and SWAPO Party and national interest of Namibia….to constantly and tirelessly explain, and to ensure the implementation of, the policies and programmes of SWAPO Party…to promote and exercise constructive criticism without fear and to accept self-criticism with a view to overcoming any defects, errors or shortcomings in the SPYL…and to comply with decisions of SPYL’s organs, even if he or she held a contrary view”. That is to say, a bona fide member or leader of SPYL shall, at all material times, adhere to the above constitutional stipulations. Anybody operating outside such constitutional parameters is serving no interest of SPYL but his own and or that of his handler(s).