SWAPO Party Youth League Must Inspire Confidence!

From a universal historical perspective, the SWAPO Party Youth League (SPYL) like any other political party youth wing was established to be autonomous and independently allied front of the mother party that is formed in order to rally support and allegiance for the organization's campaigns from younger and potential members. In addition youth wings were also expected to host discussion forums for younger members and supporters of the organization to debate policy and ideology. 
The youth wing, ranking or leading members are often seen, as potential leaders of the main political party. This has led to a perception of political party youth wings as being mere gateways of employment opportunity in government bureaucracy for younger members. The SWAPO Party and all its additional wings are in possession of a variety of resources, tangible and non-tangible, with ideas for improving the country, with structures, leaders, members and financial resources and in kind. All these activities enable the league to engage in a myriad of public discourse, hence giving them a greater advantage to reach out and appeal to the masses.
Being cognizant of the fact that there are serious development challenges in society and economy, the mother body, government cannot achieve its policies and implementation goals on its own without the youth’s participation, contribution and leadership. While a progressive once opined that, setting the precedence where voices of dissent are dealt with harshly by the ruling party is a recipe for disaster for the youth, of which the struggle for economic freedom, that lies ahead, has the responsibility and duty to be free, militant in action and radical in views. There are issues that simply just can’t be solved by development alone, certainly this calls for an in-depth interrogation of our past, present and future, in a quest to create strategies for a more sustainable and equal state, that encourage us to trudge hand in hand to solve the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and unequal distribution of wealth.
The leadership vacuum, the silence, the reactionary propensity, we undeniably find ourselves in a crisis; a period where youth, both members and leaders do not question anything, our politics of coherent ideological discourse is replaced by opportunism, power, careerism and patronage. And this dispensation has curtailed the youth wing’s quest for vibrant militant ideas, and hampers organic unity and sustenance of the movement, all in all this has rendered the league out of touch with the youth, and these kind of environment is less attractive. Be that as it may, for the league to be on track, it should regain its autonomy and inspire confidence of its capabilities to manage its own affairs and influence key policy discussions in the country. We must reject the shallow perspective, for every elected leader must be active and speak out on the current state of affairs, and not be hibernators and use the portfolios to climb the political ladder at the expense of the league.
We must rebuild the league’s organizational machinery as well its political and ideological orientation that will be able to restore confidence and attract young people in the league and mother party’s ranks, who will be able to contribute significantly to the growth of the party. SPYL should protract and operate within a plan for mobilization, re-establish its influence in society so as to reposition the league, at the centre of the youth struggle. The SPYL must speak out and take decisions on policy and leadership issues that define our struggle, beyond individual interest.
The SPYL ought to make the most of traditional political instruments and launch projects, which may at times, go with or against the ideals and objectives, of the mother party or government. For the SPYL to realize its full potential and successfully attain its objectives, the SWAPO Party should be less hierarchical and offer a great deal of freedom. This will give the wing advantage to be less integrated and thus able to generate ideas for the mother party, produce a series of discussions, initiatives and launch debates and referendums. This can only be achieved with a league that is focused and united coupled with a political vision that is clear, free, less institutional but radical and militant without practical constraints. Finally, instead of it being about factions, patronage, influence, positions and power, it should rather be about direction, about politics and ideological posture.

*Matheus Pendapala Taapopi

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