Swapo youth warned against ‘many enemies’

NEW leaders of the Swapo Youth League held their first Central Committee meeting in Windhoek on Saturday, where they reviewed resolutions taken at the last congress and elected nine members to the National Executive Committee (NEC).

The NEC consists of the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and nine other members. The two are also part of the Central Committee, which is composed of 30 members and 13 regional secretaries of the youth league.Saturday’s meeting was officially opened by party President Sam Nujoma, who reminded the youth that they had taken an oath of allegiance to defend, under any circumstances, the secrets of the party and the principles of national unity and independence.”Leadership, in your instance, goes with the responsibility to ensure that the Swapo party is jealously protected to ward off misguided elements that are working day and night to destroy our party,” Nujoma said.He told them to resist temptations that could destroy the party.”Without party discipline you become an easy target of the enemy.The reactionary elements which you are seeing and hearing today have lost discipline, focus and have embarked upon activities that are contrary to the interests of the party and our national interests,” Namibia’s founding President said.He said the “enemies of the revolution” would continue to mislead some of the youth to serve their interests and there was a need for vigilance.One example Nujoma gave was the recent attempt by an American company to recruit former freedom fighters for work in Iraq.Nujoma applauded Cabinet’s decision to close the company down and declare the owners persona non grata.”We must remember that Iraq and Afghanistan supported Swapo during the liberation struggle,” he said.Elijah Ngurare, Secretary of the Youth League, said the youth saluted Nujoma for his bravery and vowed to follow in his footsteps.”There is no room for those who want to disrupt peace.We can repeat it until even the second coming of Jesus.Who dares to touch our president shall meet the wrath of the youth,” Ngurare said.He was referring to the National Society for Human Rights’ submission to the International Criminal Court to hold Nujoma accountable for the disappearance of many people during the liberation struggle and shortly after Independence.As a result of statements Ngurare had made earlier, the NSHR has laid a charge of sedition against him.On Saturday, Ngurare told The Namibian that his lawyers had already given notice that they would defend him.The two are also part of the Central Committee, which is composed of 30 members and 13 regional secretaries of the youth league.Saturday’s meeting was officially opened by party President Sam Nujoma, who reminded the youth that they had taken an oath of allegiance to defend, under any circumstances, the secrets of the party and the principles of national unity and independence.”Leadership, in your instance, goes with the responsibility to ensure that the Swapo party is jealously protected to ward off misguided elements that are working day and night to destroy our party,” Nujoma said.He told them to resist temptations that could destroy the party.”Without party discipline you become an easy target of the enemy.The reactionary elements which you are seeing and hearing today have lost discipline, focus and have embarked upon activities that are contrary to the interests of the party and our national interests,” Namibia’s founding President said.He said the “enemies of the revolution” would continue to mislead some of the youth to serve their interests and there was a need for vigilance.One example Nujoma gave was the recent attempt by an American company to recruit former freedom fighters for work in Iraq.Nujoma applauded Cabinet’s decision to close the company down and declare the owners persona non grata.”We must remember that Iraq and Afghanistan supported Swapo during the liberation struggle,” he said.Elijah Ngurare, Secretary of the Youth League, said the youth saluted Nujoma for his bravery and vowed to follow in his footsteps.”There is no room for those who want to disrupt peace.We can repeat it until even the second coming of Jesus.Who dares to touch our president shall meet the wrath of the youth,” Ngurare said.He was referring to the National Society for Human Rights’ submission to the International Criminal Court to hold Nujoma accountable for the disappearance of many people during the liberation struggle and shortly after Independence.As a result of statements Ngurare had made earlier, the NSHR has laid a charge of sedition against him.On Saturday, Ngurare told The Namibian that his lawyers had already given notice that they would defend him.