A decision to this effect was taken at last weekend's SPYL Central Committee meeting.

SPYL acting Information Secretary Clinton Swartbooi told a media briefing in Windhoek yesterday that their proposal was prompted by some ministers who had allegedly become "allergic to SPYL leadership" and were allegedly avoiding having anything to do with their members.

The suggestion is not a totally new idea in SPYL circles.

They also pushed for the appointment of ruling party loyalists in key Government positions and in parastatals - something that later became a Swapo Party congress resolution despite concerns about negative repercussions.

According to Swartbooi, the youth were concerned about the alleged slow implementation of the party's manifesto.

He said the Central Committee condemned the alleged victimisation of SPYL members by some Cabinet ministers who, he claimed, preferred to work exclusively with non-SPYL members.

"To this end it [CC] observed that some Cabinet ministers are allergic to SPYL leadership," Swartbooi claimed.

He said the meeting resolved that in future, the appointment of all personal assistants and private secretaries of Cabinet ministers must be based on recommendations by the Swapo Party.

"A related matter is that all Swapo MPs should be provided [with] administrators and assistants appointed in the similar manner inclusive of the SPYL," he said.

In 2002, the SPYL called on the Government to only appoint ruling party loyalists in key Government positions and in parastatals since they "know the programme of the party".

At the time the Public Service Commission, which advises the President and Government on the appointment of suitable people in the public service, said the Commission was an impartial and independent body and could not be expected to take instructions from anyone.

The appointment of cadres has already turned some parastatals into financial burdens on the taxpayers.

Commercialisation of public entities had also proven that it is difficult to get rid of non-performing political appointees in State-owned enterprises.

However, Swapo continues to push ahead with its timetable to influence Government to put loyalists in strategic Government positions.

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