Unity After Congress
AS I was authoring this formulation, the wise words of Prime Minister Nahas Angula came into mind.
As he was winding up his presidential race in 2004 in which he was up against President Pohamba and Hidipo Hamutenya, he remarked that he wished the campaign to be clean and shining as his bald head. Angula’s words could have served as a learning lesson specifically to some of the campaign managers of the current three presidential hopefuls who were found wanting in some of their campaigns.
There is one thing that we must learn and know that internal democracy is good but has its ups and downs. If it is handled maturely and cleanly it strengthens internal structures of the party. On the contrary, if it is handled immaturely, it mighty create disunity and factionalism within the party.
In this formulation, I am guided by the rights and obligations of the SPYL [Swapo Party Youth League] member under article 7 sub article 2 (d) to contribute towards the organic unity of the Swapo and SPYL and to oppose factionalism. I am writing in the spirit of comradeship hoping that my fellow comrades will heed my call of unity of victory after the congress and face the future solidly united for the sake of our party unity, the country’s development and for the future of our children and their children’s children.
I know that the heavily contested position of the vice president of the party might have set the comrades against each other ideologically as comrades have put themselves into campaign groups to push for their preferred candidates’ agenda. That is a sign of a healthy democracy from within to search for a suitable candidate . Therefore, the comrades must be informed clearly that all those groups must cease immediately after all the positions are filled.
All the comrades must be prepared to rally behind the contestant who will emerge victorious during the congress whether he/she was their preferred candidates or not.
I am not sure whether the comrades vying for the vice president position of the party have prepared themselves psychologically to accept the defeat and remain royal to the party. Naturally, a loss or defeat pains and if not handled properly it may lead to making of unsound decisions. The same applies to supporters of each candidate.
Salomo Mekondjo Nambinga
SPYL member