In Defence Of SPYLA

Response to the letter of Clemens Khaiseb, The Namibian, June 27, ‘The Role of Youth Leagues’: I am a student at the Polytechnic of Namibia and would like to respond to Clemens Khaiseb’s enquiry on youth leagues in Namibia.

Far from home in Australia, Clemens doesn’t seem to be informed on Namibian news which may be the cause of him being “the only stupid, confused Namibian who does not understand the youth league mandates considering what their acronyms stand for.” First of all, the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) is the most dominant youth league active in Namibia, the other political parties have either no, or inferior youth leagues.You can pick up any newspaper and often read of SPYL activities while other political parties’ youth leagues are practically non-existent in the Namibian media.According to the SPYL constitution, this faction is dedicated to aid the Namibian youth to gain unity, self-reliance and promotes economic, social and educational rights of the youth.Their challenges also include the promotion of solidarity, freedom, equality and patriotism.SPYL is required to assist the Swapo party in “progressive policies and programmes towards a developed, fair and just society,” (SPYL Constitution, The Preamble, point 4).SPYL has made significant strides in aiding the Namibian youth achieve a better future.Only of late, SPYL has contributed to the construction of a Home for Vulnerable Children in Windhoek West together with the founders.There are several organisations such as the Michelle McLean Children’s Trust Fund and Sense of Lifestyle Cols that would gladly assist homeless children, even the National Youth Council of Namibia will help.But I urge you to bear in mind the old saying; you can bring the horse to the water but you can’t make it drink.The Grade 10 issue was largely resolved in February 2008 when SPYL and Namibia National Student’s Organisation (Nanso) urged the Ministry of Education to allow failures to repeat.The Ministry of Education instructed “a platoon system as an option to those schools with accommodation problems,” Neville Andre Itope, SPYL member.(New Era, 6 February 2008, Decision on Grade 10s Welcomed, page 12).All failed students were allowed to re-register for grade 10 at their schools with the possibility of afternoon classes.SPYL members from the Windhoek East Constituency aided College of the Arts students with renovations and repairs made to their hostel-house in Klein Windhoek.This further led to a platform directed at developing the entertainment industry by encouraging the involvement of the Namibian youth.Representatives from the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), the Namibian Film Commission (NFC) and the Federation of Film Makers (FFM) were summoned by SPYL to meet with youth and the media in March 2008 to identify and solve employment problems.Willing students were offered holiday jobs by SPYL members.The Windhoek East Constituency Development Committee (CDC) is currently in negotiations with the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) about military patrols in Windhoek in aid of fighting crime; this was the initiative of a SPYL CDC member.SPYL members are active with youth rallies all over Namibia, Khomas members are travelling to the other regions to interact and encourage fellow Namibian youth.A recent press release in May 2008 by the Okahandja youth is one such example; youth members from Windhoek attended the rally which addressed issues of the Okahandja Municipality and condemned the recent murders of a Russian farm couple.I believe that it is clear that SPYL is doing as much as they can to assist the Namibian youth, besides; SPYL is not the Government and is therefore not obliged to solve issues of education, housing, crime and employment, but none-the-less they volunteer to assist as much as possible.I am not a SPYL member, but I do recognise the positive efforts made by this group to ensure a better future for Namibia.I just cannot understand why people like Clemens claim to be proud Namibians, but then they sit at a distance and criticise those making sacrifices for this country.I am proud to be a Namibian and believe that certain individuals should get off their pedestals and join hands to cooperate towards a prosperous future for all.Jonel van Schalkwyk Via e-mailFirst of all, the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) is the most dominant youth league active in Namibia, the other political parties have either no, or inferior youth leagues.You can pick up any newspaper and often read of SPYL activities while other political parties’ youth leagues are practically non-existent in the Namibian media.According to the SPYL constitution, this faction is dedicated to aid the Namibian youth to gain unity, self-reliance and promotes economic, social and educational rights of the youth.Their challenges also include the promotion of solidarity, freedom, equality and patriotism.SPYL is required to assist the Swapo party in “progressive policies and programmes towards a developed, fair and just society,” (SPYL Constitution, The Preamble, point 4).SPYL has made significant strides in aiding the Namibian youth achieve a better future.Only of late, SPYL has contributed to the construction of a Home for Vulnerable Children in Windhoek West together with the founders.There are several organisations such as the Michelle McLean Children’s Trust Fund and Sense of Lifestyle Cols that would gladly assist homeless children, even the National Youth Council of Namibia will help.But I urge you to bear in mind the old saying; you can bring the horse to the water but you can’t make it drink.The Grade 10 issue was largely resolved in February 2008 when SPYL and Namibia National Student’s Organisation (Nanso) urged the Ministry of Education to allow failures to repeat.The Ministry of Education instructed “a platoon system as an option to those schools with accommodation problems,” Neville Andre Itope, SPYL member.(New Era, 6 February 2008, Decision on Grade 10s Welcomed, page 12).All failed students were allowed to re-register for grade 10 at their schools with the possibility of afternoon classes.SPYL members from the Windhoek East Constituency aided College of the Arts students with renovations and repairs made to their hostel-house in Klein Windhoek.This further led to a platform directed at developing the entertainment industry by encouraging the involvement of the Namibian youth.Representatives from the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), the Namibian Film Commission (NFC) and the Federation of Film Makers (FFM) were summoned by SPYL to meet with youth and the media in March 2008 to identify and solve employment problems.Willing students were offered holiday jobs by SPYL members.The Windhoek East Constituency Development Committee (CDC) is currently in negotiations with the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) about military patrols in Windhoek in aid of fighting crime; this was the initiative of a SPYL CDC member.SPYL members are active with youth rallies all over Namibia, Khomas members are travelling to the other regions to interact and encourage fellow Namibian youth.A recent press release in May 2008 by the Okahandja youth is one such example; youth members from Windhoek attended the rally which addressed issues of the Okahandja Municipality and condemned the recent murders of a Russian farm couple.I believe that it is clear that SPYL is doing as much as they can to assist the Namibian youth, besides; SPYL is not the Government and is therefore not obliged to solve issues of education, housing, crime and employment, but none-the-less they volunteer to assist as much as possible.I am not a SPYL member, but I do recognise the positive efforts made by this group to ensure a better future for Namibia.I just cannot understand why people like Clemens claim to be proud Namibians, but then they sit at a distance and criticise those making sacrifices for this country.I am proud to be a Namibian and believe that certain individuals should get off their pedestals and join hands to cooperate towards a prosperous future for all. Jonel van Schalkwyk Via e-mail