WAD not interested in politics

WOMEN’S Action for Development (WAD) says it will not be drawn into responding to last week’s criticism by the Swapo Youth League.

WAD executive director Veronica de Klerk said the organisation was apolitical and rejected any party-political involvement and interference in its work. “It (WAD) does reject such interference as in the case of the SPYL, now and in the future,” De Klerk said.Eveline !Nawases-Taeyele, acting secretary of the Swapo youth, blasted WAD last week, describing the organisation as “barbaric and inhumane” and employing divide-and-rule tactics used in colonial times.She was supporting the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), which also criticised WAD’s policy on unmarried women.Single women working for WAD have been urged not to get pregnant, because the organisation cannot afford to employ temporary workers during their three-month maternity leave.De Klerk sent such a directive to employees, but said it was never implemented.She did, however, urge unmarried staff members to use the contraceptives available free of charge at clinics and hospitals “in order to save on all the costs of having babies.”Both NUNW and the Swapo youth criticised her for that and said the WAD board was also guilty for allowing such things to happen.”It (WAD) does reject such interference as in the case of the SPYL, now and in the future,” De Klerk said.Eveline !Nawases-Taeyele, acting secretary of the Swapo youth, blasted WAD last week, describing the organisation as “barbaric and inhumane” and employing divide-and-rule tactics used in colonial times.She was supporting the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), which also criticised WAD’s policy on unmarried women.Single women working for WAD have been urged not to get pregnant, because the organisation cannot afford to employ temporary workers during their three-month maternity leave.De Klerk sent such a directive to employees, but said it was never implemented.She did, however, urge unmarried staff members to use the contraceptives available free of charge at clinics and hospitals “in order to save on all the costs of having babies.”Both NUNW and the Swapo youth criticised her for that and said the WAD board was also guilty for allowing such things to happen.