Political Perspective: Swapo Youth Hit Another Low

THE Swapo Youth League (SPYL) has been something of an embarrassment for some years now, under its former Secretary General Paulus Kapia and current leadership.

Their recent statement on the anti-Mugabe demonstration is no exception. While Swapo talks about unity and lack of dissension in its ranks, one wonders whether the hierarchy of the ruling party is really at one with the kind of rabid talk that comes from the Youth League, and if not, why don’t they distance themselves from statements which are anything but in keeping with the policy of reconciliation? The SPYL simply has to accept the right of those who wanted to protest against the official state visit of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to Namibia this week.If they felt that strongly, they could have demonstrated in favour.But they really don’t need to use the kind of insulting language they did in condemning those who are against Mugabe.SPYL’s anti-white sentiments come as no surprise because they’ve been there, done that before, but to refer to black people who demonstrated as “domesticated Africans” is an insult.Is it obligatory in the SPYL’s book for black Africans to support Mugabe? Many prominent Africans, who are anything but “domesticated” as the SPYL puts it, have condemned the man who, at 83, has been head of state in Zimbabwe for 20 years (and Prime Minister for seven years before that!) and who has even promised to govern until he’s 100 years old! South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called Mugabe a “caricature of an African dictator”), and renowned writer Wole Soyinka has described the Mugabe regime as “a disgrace to the continent”.Like the SPYL itself, Mugabe is hypocritical in his stance towards the so-called ‘West’.He may not personally choose to advertise the fact, but he was created an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of Bath in 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II, which entitles him to use the postnominal letters KCB, but not to use the title ‘Sir’.As far as we are aware, he has not rejected or revoked this honour! He’s probably a trifle upset that he and wife Grace can no longer go on shopping sprees in London and Paris following the EU travel ban, but at the same time one of his children is a student at the London School of Economics! African universities not good enough? His hate campaigns against homosexuals and what he terms ‘unnatural behaviour’ exhibit double standards too.In the eyes of many his marriage to Grace, a woman 40 years his junior, while first wife Sally was still alive, could doubly fall into the category of those he condemns! Mugabe is undoubtedly a man who played his part in the liberation of southern Africa, but we also have to admit he’s now long past his sell-by date! Leave aside the controversial land redistribution issue (which the SPYL seems to think is opposed by ‘whites’ alone) and look at the disastrous situation in Zimbabwe itself.Can we honestly say this is the result of colonialism and sanctions, rather than of Mugabe’s own making? The SPYL seems also to forget that it is black Zimbabweans who are suffering most.So while there are still many, like the SPYL, who continue to hero-worship Mugabe, those who oppose him as a cruel despot are just as entitled to these views and to manifest them in a peaceful demonstration if they so wish.It may also serve to show us that there are still some people of conscience around!While Swapo talks about unity and lack of dissension in its ranks, one wonders whether the hierarchy of the ruling party is really at one with the kind of rabid talk that comes from the Youth League, and if not, why don’t they distance themselves from statements which are anything but in keeping with the policy of reconciliation? The SPYL simply has to accept the right of those who wanted to protest against the official state visit of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to Namibia this week.If they felt that strongly, they could have demonstrated in favour.But they really don’t need to use the kind of insulting language they did in condemning those who are against Mugabe.SPYL’s anti-white sentiments come as no surprise because they’ve been there, done that before, but to refer to black people who demonstrated as “domesticated Africans” is an insult.Is it obligatory in the SPYL’s book for black Africans to support Mugabe? Many prominent Africans, who are anything but “domesticated” as the SPYL puts it, have condemned the man who, at 83, has been head of state in Zimbabwe for 20 years (and Prime Minister for seven years before that!) and who has even promised to govern until he’s 100 years old! South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called Mugabe a “caricature of an African dictator”), and renowned writer Wole Soyinka has described the Mugabe regime as “a disgrace to the continent”.Like the SPYL itself, Mugabe is hypocritical in his stance towards the so-called ‘West’.He may not personally choose to advertise the fact, but he was created an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of Bath in 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II, which entitles him to use the postnominal letters KCB, but not to use the title ‘Sir’.As far as we are aware, he has not rejected or revoked this honour! He’s probably a trifle upset that he and wife Grace can no longer go on shopping sprees in London and Paris following the EU travel ban, but at the same time one of his children is a student at the London School of Economics! African universities not good enough? His hate campaigns against homosexuals and what he terms ‘unnatural behaviour’ exhibit double standards too.In the eyes of many his marriage to Grace, a woman 40 years his junior, while first wife Sally was still alive, could doubly fall into the category of those he condemns! Mugabe is undoubtedly a man who played his part in the liberation of southern Africa, but we also have to admit he’s now long past his sell-by date! Leave aside the controversial land redistribution issue (which the SPYL seems to think is opposed by ‘whites’ alone) and look at the disastrous situation in Zimbabwe itself.Can we honestly say this is the result of colonialism and sanctions, rather than of Mugabe’s own making? The SPYL seems also to forget that it is black Zimbabweans who are suffering most.So while there are still many, like the SPYL, who continue to hero-worship Mugabe, those who oppose him as a cruel despot are just as entitled to these views and to manifest them in a peaceful demonstration if they so wish.It may also serve to show us that there are still some people of conscience around!