SPYL Praise For Hengari

I READ your Friday 15 May 2009 edition with keen interest especially the column of  Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari, a PhD fellow in political science at the University of Paris- Panthéon Sorbonne, in France. His intervention was titled ‘Ngurare’s defence of a Post-Tribal Vision of politics provides an opportunity for our Democracy’.

I READ your Friday 15 May 2009 edition with keen interest especially the column of Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari, a PhD fellow in political science at the University of Paris- Panthéon Sorbonne, in France. His intervention was titled ‘Ngurare’s defence of a Post-Tribal Vision of politics provides an opportunity for our Democracy’.
At the heart of his argument is that ‘Namibia, though stable, is no exception, with recurring discussions around tribalism and the continued existence of political parties whose constituencies are nothing other than mere extensions of tribes and kinship’.
As a member of the Central Committee of the SPYL, I am pleased to comment on his article and congratulate Mr. Hengari for a well-written column.
What I want to add is that in both SPYL Constitution and Swapo Party Constitution there is complete rejection of tribalism and amongst the SPYL’s Aims and Objectives is ‘to be vigilant and constantly combat all forms and tendencies of nepotism, favouritism, moral decay, tribalism, individualism, corruption, racism, regionalism and all reactionary conduct among the youth in the Namibian society’.
Anybody who calls themselves members or leaders of SPYL yet exercise tribalism or corruption or any retrogressive tendencies mentioned above are violating the Constitution of SPYL.
Therefore what the Secretary of SPYL, Dr. Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare, stands for is upholding the Constitutions of SPYL and Swapo Party. That is why time and again we in SPYL say that all the Namibian youth can find a political home in Swapo because it a party fully for all Namibians regardless of race, tribe or socio-economic status.
In this manner, the SPYL continues as per its Constitution, ‘to inculcate in the youth patriotic spirit, hard work, self reliance, respect and love for cultural values and traditions, and the need to be willing catalyst in the process of nation building and the creation of a non-exploitative, non-oppressive and democratic society’.
It is in this regard that I applaud the column of Hengari as appeared in your newspaper. We hope other young academics will also write about educative and informative columns such as the one of Hengari. One Namibia One Nation, let it be a call in theory and in practice. In SPYL it is both.

Selma Shigwedha
SPYL Regional Secretary:
Karas Region
Via e-mail