Swapo betrayed women and youth, charges CoD

THE Congress of Democrats says Swapo has betrayed women and the youth by not having more of them on the party’s list of 72 for the upcoming presidential and national elections.

CoD spokesperson Natjirikasorua Tjirera claimed yesterday that Swapo has rejected women and the youth ‘in totality for the coming polls’, and thus showed complete disrespect to them.’In fact it shows betrayal of the highest order,’ he said.Only two women and no youth league members have made it to the first 20 of the party list, a sign that Swapo is ‘stuck in history and refuses to move with the times’, Tjirera said.He said women and the youth were the biggest voting block yet ‘a troop of arrogant old men’ wanted to decide for them.’Swapo’s mentality that young people and the women are not good enough to take positions of leadership in the country is the very reason that this country is failing to deal with the socio-economic injustices in the country.’ He called on all youth and women to reject the Swapo list.CoD has committed itself ‘to include a provision for a gender quota [for leadership structures] in line with the most current international agreements’.This would, presumably, be 30 per cent as laid down by Namibia’s commitments to the Southern African Development Community.In 2004 women formed 47,3 per cent of CoD’s Central Committee and 13 per cent of its National Executive Committee. Of the five members in the National Assembly two were women but one, Nora Schimming-Chase, was recalled last month and subsequently resigned from the party.Tjirera said Schimming-Chase will be replaced by week but he could not say whether it will be by a woman.When The Namibian pointed out that the CoD was not exactly a good example for Swapo, Tjirera said they would address women and youth representation effectively with the list of 72 that will be finalised during the last week of this month.Meanwhile, the party’s councillor on the Windhoek City Council, Herbert Schultz, resigned from CoD on Monday.Schultz handed in his resignation, marked for the attention of the party’s secretary general at the head office in Katutura, and wants to concentrate on teaching.’It has all to do with the party’s congress in Keetmanshoop where I was part of the group which walked out. Since that time there was mistrust or distrust. It never disappeared despite an uneasy truce,’ he told The Namibian. Schultz said he joined CoD because he believed it was the right vehicle to achieve certain objectives for the country but the party has lost focus due to internal fights.’The last straw was the withdrawal of Nora [Schimming-Chase] and her subsequent resignation. I have principles,’ he saidSchultz said he will take a sabbatical but is not finished with politics.He has returned to teaching at a school in Katutura.’My immediate priority is to help the Grade 10 and 12 children to pass their exams. I am glad for the opportunity the party afforded me to serve them for five years,’ he said.Tjirera said he was not aware of the resignation.’He has not tendered any official resignation. We have only heard the rumours but we can’t act until we have received the letter,’ he said.