Unam allows Shaningwa speech despite ban

The University of Namibia (Unam) has allowed Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa to speak at a student event despite a campus-wide ban on political activities.

The university, however, says Shaningwa’s presence at the gathering is in line with the university’s rule, since she was invited by a student organisation registered at Unam.

Shaningwa was the keynote speaker on public engagement, effective governance and public service delivery at the event organised by the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) on Tuesday evening.

The university in April last year issued a directive prohibiting all political activities at its campuses nationwide.

This decision faced widespread criticism, as political parties accused the national university of suppressing freedom of political association.

The decision was further cited to have the potential to stifle students’ constitutional rights to align, support and air their political views.

Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho yesterday said the ban remains in place.

“The university may allow only registered student organisations to host events at its campuses across the country, as per their approved annual plan, adhering to the policy, regulations and procedures on events by registered student organisations,” he said.

At the time, political parties said the matter should be treated with fairness and balance between freedom of association and policies governing the institution.

During the event, Shaningwa said the systems of the Swapo government must be protected, “come hell or high water”.
She urged SPYL members to be prepared to take over as future leaders.

“Ask yourself if this generation of mine drops now and we are no more, are you ready to protect the system? And you cannot be an iceberg when you see danger. You have to be tough. You don’t melt like ice, you are a stone that must protect the system,” she said.

She said the former presidents protected the systems, and young people should ready themselves to take over and ensure service delivery and governance systems are protected.

For the first time in Swapo’s history, a manifesto implementation plan has been adopted with key priorities identified, Shaningwa said, to ensure service delivery to the public.

Last year, a group of young people from the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), led by former member and activist Michael Amushelelo, gathered at the university’s main gate to express their frustration.

The group was upset after it emerged that a student society affiliated with the SPYL was permitted to conduct political activities despite the ban.

LPM Youth Command spokesperson William Minnie at the time accused Unam of favouring the ruling party.

“It is clear that only one political party is above the law at Unam,” he said.

The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Student Command was first to fall victim to the directive, as the group was denied hosting its official opening on campus.

AR national spokesperson George Kambala said the directive undermines the rights of students to gather and associate with any political party or religion.

He said at the time that the treatment was unfair and that Swapo was favoured over opposition parties.

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