Calm and Unity at SPYL Congress

KATIMA MULILO, Aug. 25 –  For the first time in recent history, the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) seems to be under a unified spell of euphoria, as proceedings at the on-going Congress have proceeded without any tense atmosphere nor infighting.

Some delegates have gone as far as lauding good leadership skills of Acting Secretary of SPYL Veikko Nekundi, while others countered that the attendance of President Hage Geingob to the Congress was the sole catalyst of unity to the youth.

However, an anonymous delegate this reporter spoke to criticized the lack of ‘drama’, adding that it made for an unusual and boring youth congress.

When asked of his views to that regard, Nekundi dismissed the lack of drama saying: “This is our dream to see young people united for purpose of Party norms and believes.”

Dancing from left to right : Andre Naville Itope: SPYL Secretary for Information and mobilization; President Hage Geingob in the middle; Acting SPYL Secretary Veikko Nekundi

He added:”In fact I was very happy during the official opening of Congress by the President as I saw everyone dancing happily to the Harambee Ndilimani songs including those perceived as our Presidents’ youth critics.”

It is widely expected that the duo of Ephraim Nekongo and Christine Haindaka will be endorsed as Secretary and Deputy Secretary of SPYL respectively, while close to hundred (100) candidates vie for forty-six (46) Central Committee membership spots, fifteen (15) delegated positions to the Party’s November Congress and four (4) Swapo Party Central Committee candidacies.

It was a sense of calm and unity at the Congress

The congress ends on Sunday. – Robert Maseka