Swapo youth ‘gets religion’

THE Swapo Party Youth League has called on President Hifikepunye Pohamba to establish a Ministry of Religion in Namibia.

Speaking at the SPYL Central Committee meeting in Windhoek on Saturday, its Secretary Elijah Ngurare proposed that Government assist churches in taking care of the poor in Namibia. “The State must shape the church in Namibia.Government must consider a department or even a Ministry for religion and there must be a grant to assist the poor through the churches,” Ngurare said to the applause of those who attended the opening.In that way, he said, Swapo would effectively stop those who “bribe the Church to bribe the society”.However, Ngurare said only “legitimate” churches – the traditionally known ones – should be registered under the proposed Ministry of Religion.”We should begin to recognise the importance of the Church.We are saying the Church must be met halfway.Yes, it sounds controversial, but we must live with it,” he said.That was not the only controversial statement he made.Ngurare also proposed that each head of a parastatal be paid only N$1 000 a month and that their fringe benefits be reduced or taken away so that they could feel the pinch “like those at Hoachanas”.”Let’s not be academic about the rising food prices.People are having a tough time to even afford maize meal.Let us not be blind to realities.Slogans won’t bring bread on the table.Let’s do everything to reduce the prices of food,” he said.He said many in top jobs at parastatals and other high-paying positions did not feel the negative effect of the rising food prices and needed to be exposed to the same circumstances in which the rural poor live.”We must not waste time on good concepts that have no meaning.People don’t eat [the] GDP that we talk about.All that some parastatals do is outsmarting each other with advertisements worth thousands.What does that translate to in Rehoboth East or Rehoboth West? Some of that money will be better spent by those constituencies,” Ngurare said .He said the SPYL would remain “stubborn” on its demands and such demands were for black and white youths alike.”I challenge white youth to come to us and engage with us.Let young white compatriots not be misled on account of what happened yesterday.They were not there and did not contribute to the wrongs of the past.But we want them to come and live with us in Okanguati and Hoachanas,” he said.”The State must shape the church in Namibia.Government must consider a department or even a Ministry for religion and there must be a grant to assist the poor through the churches,” Ngurare said to the applause of those who attended the opening.In that way, he said, Swapo would effectively stop those who “bribe the Church to bribe the society”.However, Ngurare said only “legitimate” churches – the traditionally known ones – should be registered under the proposed Ministry of Religion.”We should begin to recognise the importance of the Church.We are saying the Church must be met halfway.Yes, it sounds controversial, but we must live with it,” he said.That was not the only controversial statement he made.Ngurare also proposed that each head of a parastatal be paid only N$1 000 a month and that their fringe benefits be reduced or taken away so that they could feel the pinch “like those at Hoachanas”.”Let’s not be academic about the rising food prices.People are having a tough time to even afford maize meal.Let us not be blind to realities.Slogans won’t bring bread on the table.Let’s do everything to reduce the prices of food,” he said.He said many in top jobs at parastatals and other high-paying positions did not feel the negative effect of the rising food prices and needed to be exposed to the same circumstances in which the rural poor live.”We must not waste time on good concepts that have no meaning.People don’t eat [the] GDP that we talk about.All that some parastatals do is outsmarting each other with advertisements worth thousands.What does that translate to in Rehoboth East or Rehoboth West? Some of that money will be better spent by those constituencies,” Ngurare said .He said the SPYL would remain “stubborn” on its demands and such demands were for black and white youths alike.”I challenge white youth to come to us and engage with us.Let young white compatriots not be misled on account of what happened yesterday.They were not there and did not contribute to the wrongs of the past.But we want them to come and live with us in Okanguati and Hoachanas,” he said.