Africa-Press – Namibia. THE removal of Kunene region governor Marius Sheya from a Swapo Party Youth League leadership position is linked to an ongoing scramble for power within the ruling party’s youth wing.
The latest development is considered by party insiders a clear sign that youth leaders who supported president Hage Geingob are now at each other’s throats, weakening SPYL secretary Ephraim Nekongo’s power as he enters a critical congress year.
Sheya, who served as the youth wing’s economics secretary, has for years been tipped as a potential candidate to replace Nekongo. Sheya is said to be highly rated by Geingob.
Nekongo’s faction appears to have acted fast by clipping Sheya’s wings at last weekend’s SPYL central committee meeting at Grootfontein. The event was opened by Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa.
Before the meeting, some top youth leaders reportedly proposed agenda points to the executive. SPYL’s Gert Titus from the //Kharas region allegedly suggested a motion to dissolve the entire SPYL national executive committee, save Nekongo and his deputy, who were elected directly at the congress.
The current national executive committee (NEC) is dominated by Nekongo’s allies. The NEC ignored the suggestion and removed it from the agenda, but several central committee members are said to continue sharpening their knives.
They allegedly belong to Swapo’s Harambee faction and are also Nekongo allies. NEC members who were said to be targeted were the secretary of international affairs, finance, and administration, and Sheya.
Secretary for labour and justice Tuyeni Kandume was removed from her portfolio earlier this year after she allegedly missed three consecutive NEC meetings without a valid reason.
Zambezi SPYL regional secretary Mike Kachitomwa then tabled a motion for Sheya’s removal because of his alleged failure to run Swapo’s youth business wing, Juventus.
He believed Sheya was not transparent, and failed to follow procedure when appointing directors and auditors of the companies. A case in point was the appointment of Abel Amutse, who is a central committee member.
The youth league’s central committee was allegedly supposed to make nominations when it comes to members who should represent it on the board of SPYL’s businesses.
Kachitomwa’s motion was seconded by Hans Haikali from the Omusati region. Haikali is a known Nekongo ally. Nekongo allegedly then asked if anyone was going to oppose the motion to have Sheya removed.
Kachitomwa told The Namibian yesterday he tabled the motion because Sheya has not shown faith in the SPYL leadership. “He thinks we are not competent. He cannot say the people he appointed are competent. We know who the people are,” he said.
He said SPYL has accountants, teachers and others who can run the youth league’s businesses. Ronny Hengari from the Omaheke region allegedly tried to argue against Sheya’s removal, but failed.
Since he did not have any support to second his plea from the floor, this left Nekongo with no option but to allow the motion to be enforced. The secretary for finance and administration and the secretary for international affairs survived the chop.
Sources who attended the meeting said Nekongo allies, such as Immanuel Shikongo, Ndahafa Wapulile, and Sharonice Busch were among the critical voices from the floor.
Sources believe this appears to be a sign that Nekongo could be losing his grip on the SPYL leadership at a critical time. Nekongo came into power via the coup which removed Elijah Ngurare as SPYL secretary.
One of the key people involved in his removal was former SPYL deputy secretary Veikko Nekundi, who was key in placing Nekongo at the youth league throne at the 2017 youth congress.
But that congress was also tainted by allegations that it was funded by Fishrot money. COMPROMISING POSITION Nekongo declined to comment when asked whether the youth league has indeed recalled Sheya as economics secretary.
He said the youth league would release a statement on the outcome of the central committee meeting. According to a source, Sheya’s alleged close relationship with the president has compromised him.
It is alleged that he advises the president on who to appoint in various influential youth league positions. Several young people appointed by Geingob include new lawmaker Patience Masua and deputy minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus.
The SPYL has in the past criticised the move to appoint Masua and Theofelus. Sheya declined to comment on his alleged removal. “I can neither confirm nor deny that information. But what I can say is that I remain a disciplined cadre of the party under the leadership of my secretary Ephraim Nekongo,” he said. He said the fact that he’s called a ‘water boy’ or Geingob’s ‘blue-eyed boy’ is an insult to him, the entire country, and the president.
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