Swanu threatens Unam about ban on campus politics

SWANU has told the University of Namibia to drop its policy barring staff from active politics or face action that would expose what it called Unam’s “hypocrisy and malicious intentions”.

Swanu’s secretary for information, Shimbuli Katupose, issued a statement yesterday warning Unam that its actions against staff members participating in active politics were illegal and would be challenged. Late last year Unam informed some staff members who held party office that it had a policy banning such practices.As a result, the Swapo Youth League withdrew its secretary for information, Charles Siyauya, from active leadership.Others still walking on thin ice were Swanu president Usutuaije Maamberua and Swanu secretary general Dr Tangeni Iijambo.Former Swapo Women’s Secretary Eunice Iipinge – employed in Unam’s research department – had held the party position for five years before being voted out in December 2006.Swanu said the decision was a “calculated attempt targeting specifically the leadership of the party for harassment”.”This decision will not be tolerated in a free country in which the rights of people to political participation are guaranteed and protected under the Supreme Law of the country,” Katupose said.The party argues that the Unam move tampers with academic freedom upon which universities are founded and Unam must stop “treating its academic staff like voting cattle” that must simply carry party membership cards, attend meetings and vote without adding their own voices to shaping the public discourses.Swanu said some lecturers at Unam were constantly in the media exercising their right to advocate for certain political parties.”This condition of service was contrived hardly a few days after two Swanu comrades assumed leadership positions.It smacks of hypocrisy and malicious intention,” Katupose said.He said Unam could not outlaw politics from a campus where political science was taught as a subject.Unam said earlier that student societies registered with the institution were allowed to do politicking on the campus but staff must steer clear of it.Unam spokesperson Utaara Hoveka said the policy on campus politics only regulates the involvement of administrative and academic staff members and does not cover students.Maamberua is head of department for accounting, auditing and taxation at Unam while Iijambo lectures in the university’s education department.Five days after their election as party office bearers, they received a letter from Unam informing them that they could not be involved in active politics while working there.Late last year Unam informed some staff members who held party office that it had a policy banning such practices.As a result, the Swapo Youth League withdrew its secretary for information, Charles Siyauya, from active leadership.Others still walking on thin ice were Swanu president Usutuaije Maamberua and Swanu secretary general Dr Tangeni Iijambo.Former Swapo Women’s Secretary Eunice Iipinge – employed in Unam’s research department – had held the party position for five years before being voted out in December 2006.Swanu said the decision was a “calculated attempt targeting specifically the leadership of the party for harassment”.”This decision will not be tolerated in a free country in which the rights of people to political participation are guaranteed and protected under the Supreme Law of the country,” Katupose said.The party argues that the Unam move tampers with academic freedom upon which universities are founded and Unam must stop “treating its academic staff like voting cattle” that must simply carry party membership cards, attend meetings and vote without adding their own voices to shaping the public discourses.Swanu said some lecturers at Unam were constantly in the media exercising their right to advocate for certain political parties.”This condition of service was contrived hardly a few days after two Swanu comrades assumed leadership positions.It smacks of hypocrisy and malicious intention,” Katupose said.He said Unam could not outlaw politics from a campus where political science was taught as a subject.Unam said earlier that student societies registered with the institution were allowed to do politicking on the campus but staff must steer clear of it.Unam spokesperson Utaara Hoveka said the policy on campus politics only regulates the involvement of administrative and academic staff members and does not cover students.Maamberua is head of department for accounting, auditing and taxation at Unam while Iijambo lectures in the university’s education department.Five days after their election as party office bearers, they received a letter from Unam informing them that they could not be involved in active politics while working there.