CoD youth leader suspended

THE Secretary General of the youth wing of the Congress of Democrats, the Young Democrats (YD), has been suspended for a second time.

The Deputy Secretary General of the Young Democrats, Mauritius Goseb, announced yesterday that a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on February 17 decided to suspend Natji Tjirare pending the outcome of an investigation by a disciplinary committee. “The suspended SG is under no circumstances to act in any official duty, representing the Young Democrats.Although there are a number of charges being investigated against the SG, we will not make them public at this stage as the investigations are still on,” Goseb said.Tjirare was first suspended in December 2005.The move was taken by a group of young people who also decided to dissolve the NEC, but the decision was nullified by party leader Ben Ulenga.Ulenga charged that proper procedures were not followed in suspending Tjirare.The first move was taken after Tjirare publicly criticised the party’s national leadership, claiming that CoD was disorganised and alleging that some of the leaders were not even on speaking terms.He called for their resignation.A group of CoD youth, irked by Tjirare’s remarks, called a “consultative” meeting where they demanded a report on the affairs of the youth wing from him and decided to boot him when he refused to provide it.They appointed a steering committee which did not last for long.Tjirare is seen as an ally of Ulenga and if he is ousted, it is expected to afford others an opportunity to use the youth platform during the campaign leading up to the party’s extraordinary congress later this year.CoD head office yesterday remained tight-lipped on the latest developments.”The suspended SG is under no circumstances to act in any official duty, representing the Young Democrats.Although there are a number of charges being investigated against the SG, we will not make them public at this stage as the investigations are still on,” Goseb said.Tjirare was first suspended in December 2005.The move was taken by a group of young people who also decided to dissolve the NEC, but the decision was nullified by party leader Ben Ulenga.Ulenga charged that proper procedures were not followed in suspending Tjirare.The first move was taken after Tjirare publicly criticised the party’s national leadership, claiming that CoD was disorganised and alleging that some of the leaders were not even on speaking terms.He called for their resignation.A group of CoD youth, irked by Tjirare’s remarks, called a “consultative” meeting where they demanded a report on the affairs of the youth wing from him and decided to boot him when he refused to provide it.They appointed a steering committee which did not last for long.Tjirare is seen as an ally of Ulenga and if he is ousted, it is expected to afford others an opportunity to use the youth platform during the campaign leading up to the party’s extraordinary congress later this year.CoD head office yesterday remained tight-lipped on the latest developments.