Govt kicks Okalongo youth out of own expo
The Okalongo Settlement Development Committee, which is part of the settlement’s local authority, has snatched an annual trade expo from the local youth who initiated it – saying all the revenue generated from the festival will now go to the local authority.
Co-founder of the Okalongo Youth Foundation George Hermenegildo said after the foundation was formed in 2018, they started the Okalongo Youth Expo in 2019.
He added that they have hosted the expo from 2019 until 2022, and while they were preparing for the annual event – set to be held this month - they received a letter from the Okalongo local authority through the Omusati regional council.
According to the letter, they were no longer allowed to host the event, and the local authority office would take over and rename it the Okalongo Expo.
The letter – seen by Namibian Sun – was dated 20 November, and was written by Omusati regional council chief regional officer Gervasius Kashindi.
Kashindi wrote: “Okalongo Settlement Development Committee held a meeting on 31 October at Okalongo settlement office to review the Okalongo Youth Expo. This meeting resolved that the expo will be called Okalongo Expo, [and will] be hosted by the Okalongo settlement office in conjunction with the Okalongo Youth Forum”.
The letter further stated that the committee resolved that the annual expo will be held every December.
No other expo
“Okalongo committee resolved that all payments for the stalls should be paid at Okalongo settlement office, as per the Omusati regional council tariff structure for the 2023/24 financial year.
“There should be no other expo taking place at the same time with the Okalongo Expo within the Okalongo settlement boundaries,” it read in part.
Hermenegildo said as the original architects of the idea, they feel the committee’s move is politically-motivated, adding that they were never called for any discussions on the event.
He also accused the council of being ‘against them’ because its officials allegedly discovered that some members of the youth foundation belong to political parties other than Swapo.
“They are stopping us from hosting the event because we are not all from Swapo. I told them that this is not a political event, but a community-based event which is formed to benefit the youth of Okalongo and the community.
“Now some reached out to some of my colleagues, saying they must apparently join the settlement because the idea is to destroy the Okalongo Youth Foundation because it's spearheaded by some individuals in opposition parties,” Hermenegildo said.
Not involved
Kashindi told Namibian Sun yesterday that his office is administrative and was not involved in the decision, and instead “merely communicated it”.
He added that he also believes that the idea for the expo cannot be stolen idea as events of this nature are hosted countrywide.
“The decision was taken at constituency development level and we facilitated the communication,” he said.
According to Kallush Aipinge, chairperson of the settlement committee, they consulted with the organisers of the youth expo to collaborate with them, but they declined the offer and opted to host their own event.
Hermenegildo denied that they refused to work with the settlement team, but said the request was short notice as it came in August and they were only willing to engage in 2024.
The expo is scheduled for 15 to 23 December.
Industrialisation and trade minister Lucia Iipumbu is scheduled to officiate the opening on 19 December.
Co-founder of the Okalongo Youth Foundation George Hermenegildo said after the foundation was formed in 2018, they started the Okalongo Youth Expo in 2019.
He added that they have hosted the expo from 2019 until 2022, and while they were preparing for the annual event – set to be held this month - they received a letter from the Okalongo local authority through the Omusati regional council.
According to the letter, they were no longer allowed to host the event, and the local authority office would take over and rename it the Okalongo Expo.
The letter – seen by Namibian Sun – was dated 20 November, and was written by Omusati regional council chief regional officer Gervasius Kashindi.
Kashindi wrote: “Okalongo Settlement Development Committee held a meeting on 31 October at Okalongo settlement office to review the Okalongo Youth Expo. This meeting resolved that the expo will be called Okalongo Expo, [and will] be hosted by the Okalongo settlement office in conjunction with the Okalongo Youth Forum”.
The letter further stated that the committee resolved that the annual expo will be held every December.
No other expo
“Okalongo committee resolved that all payments for the stalls should be paid at Okalongo settlement office, as per the Omusati regional council tariff structure for the 2023/24 financial year.
“There should be no other expo taking place at the same time with the Okalongo Expo within the Okalongo settlement boundaries,” it read in part.
Hermenegildo said as the original architects of the idea, they feel the committee’s move is politically-motivated, adding that they were never called for any discussions on the event.
He also accused the council of being ‘against them’ because its officials allegedly discovered that some members of the youth foundation belong to political parties other than Swapo.
“They are stopping us from hosting the event because we are not all from Swapo. I told them that this is not a political event, but a community-based event which is formed to benefit the youth of Okalongo and the community.
“Now some reached out to some of my colleagues, saying they must apparently join the settlement because the idea is to destroy the Okalongo Youth Foundation because it's spearheaded by some individuals in opposition parties,” Hermenegildo said.
Not involved
Kashindi told Namibian Sun yesterday that his office is administrative and was not involved in the decision, and instead “merely communicated it”.
He added that he also believes that the idea for the expo cannot be stolen idea as events of this nature are hosted countrywide.
“The decision was taken at constituency development level and we facilitated the communication,” he said.
According to Kallush Aipinge, chairperson of the settlement committee, they consulted with the organisers of the youth expo to collaborate with them, but they declined the offer and opted to host their own event.
Hermenegildo denied that they refused to work with the settlement team, but said the request was short notice as it came in August and they were only willing to engage in 2024.
The expo is scheduled for 15 to 23 December.
Industrialisation and trade minister Lucia Iipumbu is scheduled to officiate the opening on 19 December.
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