SPYL Fears Political Suicide

IN response to Gwen Lister’s Political Perspective in The Namibian of August 21, 2009 surrounding the failure by Swapo’s Youth League to name its known political activists for the 72 parliamentary seats, this has become a source of wide speculation.

The speculation includes a desire to snub President Pohamba; to wait for another day when many of the old guard will have voluntarily left; and the claims that SPYL’s political activist are not power-hungry.Claims that would argue of an opposition party not willing to be the ruling party or playing football without scoring goals, because politics and all those that want to be players aim for power and nothing else.Indeed, it is either one has the political capital to muscle his/her way through or not. A time ‘noise makers’ can demonstrate their support within the party structures, and not go into hiding. And the issue of practicing diversity doesn’t hold water, as the Swapo party had been doing this for many years – looking at those who have served in Parliament, there was real diversity.The simple point is: any known political activist within SPYL’s NEC was not having a free ride to parliament, and should have been ready to fight his way through to get a place on the list of 72 parliamentary hopefuls.Though power lies within the party structures, Swapo will be sending its best to Parliament – starting with the top four positions: Pohamba, Geingob, Ithana-Ivula, and Mbumba.For those not part of the top four, they must earn their place on the 72 parliamentary list, based on the respect and admiration they have within Swapo and not just cheap talk.And the decision for the known SPYL activists not to jump into the race is the same reason why one would not jump off an airplane without a parachute. Fear of political suicide! The chances of any known controversial faces within SPYL to find favour within the rank and file of the party are very slim if at all, because of the power struggle, in-fighting, and name-calling that Namibians have witnessed being mounted by some ‘firebrands’ in the ranks of SPYL.So was undermining President Pohamba’s leadership, and some of his trusted leaders/advisors – which was naive. That is why SPYL’s NEC could not contest for fear of losing. A tactical move or a cowardly one, it’s obvious that if one cannot put his/her money where his mouth is, one has chickened out.Quite regrettable, after the Swapo Youth League had made a big deal of ‘the battle to come’ – on who will be in and who will be out of the 72 parliamentary seats.Out of the pack, Dr Elijah Ngurare’s absence is notable, as he has the intellect and leadership qualities to propel the youth agenda onto the national stage, and give it the attention it deserves. As for the nominated persons who will represent the SPYL, all they go with into this fight is good luck. They are not known and their defeat will not harm the youth wing as they are insignificant. And as for Paulus Kapia, he is expendable, the ‘guinea pig’ – if he loses then it’s because of the ongoing corruption controversy that clings to him. Should he win, then SPYL gets the credit. In a nutshell, SPYL has covered its back by sending rookies and a fall guy to the battlefield without the ‘generals’ being sacrificial lambs.Mulife MuchaliCanada