SPYL warns ‘hibernating tribalists’

TRIBALISTS, factionists and reactionaries are to be ‘flushed out’ after last week’s Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) Central Committee meeting held at Swakopmund.

The move follows alleged attempts by certain groups and individuals within the movement to encourage a boycott of the SPYL meeting because of former SPYL leader Paulus Kapia’s presence as a speaker at the event. SPYL Secretary General Elijah Ngurare claimed that some members did not welcome Kapia’s presence. He said these ‘individual tribalists were infesting the unity of the youth’ and therefore could not be tolerated.’They can go and talk bad of us, but they will not break our resolve,’ said Ngurare. ‘Nice try. Good luck. We will continue to walk one path of national reconciliation where enemies must forgive and reconcile.’Often, it is these comrades who launch the fiercest attacks on the SPYL, attempting to stop SPYL in her tracks by all means necessary. If, as history teaches us, we permit individual and capitalist self-interests to super-cede the Swapo Party’s base interest, our party will be seen as having betrayed our freedom and we will inevitably be deserted at the ballot box,’ he said.He said some ‘detractors’ of the party’s mandate have create superficial groupings, based on tribal and ethnic orientation, regionalism and distortions of all sorts ‘to blow down SPYL and eventually silence us’.Speaking at the event, Paulus Kapia called on the youth to remain vigilant against reactionary tendencies, factionalism and tribalism.’Be vigilant and extra careful in all your daily doings and movements. Some are not happy with the vibrancy and energy of the current youth leadership,’ he said.The flushing out is to be done by an investigating team consisting of Swapo’s regional co-ordinator for Oshikoto Armas Amukwiyu, Swapo MP Eveline !Nawases-Kayele, Nanso leader Neville Andre Itope and youth activist Titus Huisemab. The meeting was attended by close to 100 delegates from all 13 regions of the country. At a closed-door meeting following the open session, issues of rural development and youth empowerment apparently topped the agenda. The SPYL is expected to have a media briefing today. adam@namibian.com.na