Suspended SUN leader claims he is new union boss
Kenya Kambowe
Rundu
Student Union of Namibia (SUN) secretary-general Bernhard Kavau who was suspended mid-February claims he was elected as SAN president over the weekend.
Subsequent to his suspension on 15 February, Kavau convened a congress this past weekend, where he was elected as president.
The congress took place in Rundu last Friday and Saturday and Kavau claims 120 delegates from across the country attended the event.
Epaphras Ngolo this week confirmed to the media that Kavau was elected president of the union unopposed.
Ngolo himself was elected executive director, Geraldine Maasdorp was elected as chief education officer, Penda Nakawa was elected as chief strategist, Nadia De Klerk was elected chief foreign diaspora while Eunice Karambo was elected students' rights and community development officer.
Questions
However, SUN’s Simon Amunime told Namibian Sun yesterday that he is still president of the union.
He stressed that the Rundu congress was a gimmick by Kavau who has been dodging a disciplinary committee.
Amunime described the congress as a “baptism party” for Kavau.
Amunime added that Kavau does not qualify to be a member of SUN.
He declined to elaborate on the reasons for Kavau’s suspension.
Two sides
Both Ngolo and Kavau told the press that they went by the book and convened the congress which they termed as legitimate.
In response to questions about former SUN leaders, Ngolo said there was never a legitimate structure for the union, and directors were just acting on behalf of the union until official elections.
“We only had directors. But now after the congress has taken place, all directors have to step down,” Ngolo said.
SUN was launched in September 2019 by a number of disgruntled student activists who at the time were members of the Namibia National Students Organization (Nanso).
To date the organisation has not held an elective congress.
Attempts to get comment from Kavau yesterday on his suspension proved futile at the time of going to print.
[email protected]
Rundu
Student Union of Namibia (SUN) secretary-general Bernhard Kavau who was suspended mid-February claims he was elected as SAN president over the weekend.
Subsequent to his suspension on 15 February, Kavau convened a congress this past weekend, where he was elected as president.
The congress took place in Rundu last Friday and Saturday and Kavau claims 120 delegates from across the country attended the event.
Epaphras Ngolo this week confirmed to the media that Kavau was elected president of the union unopposed.
Ngolo himself was elected executive director, Geraldine Maasdorp was elected as chief education officer, Penda Nakawa was elected as chief strategist, Nadia De Klerk was elected chief foreign diaspora while Eunice Karambo was elected students' rights and community development officer.
Questions
However, SUN’s Simon Amunime told Namibian Sun yesterday that he is still president of the union.
He stressed that the Rundu congress was a gimmick by Kavau who has been dodging a disciplinary committee.
Amunime described the congress as a “baptism party” for Kavau.
Amunime added that Kavau does not qualify to be a member of SUN.
He declined to elaborate on the reasons for Kavau’s suspension.
Two sides
Both Ngolo and Kavau told the press that they went by the book and convened the congress which they termed as legitimate.
In response to questions about former SUN leaders, Ngolo said there was never a legitimate structure for the union, and directors were just acting on behalf of the union until official elections.
“We only had directors. But now after the congress has taken place, all directors have to step down,” Ngolo said.
SUN was launched in September 2019 by a number of disgruntled student activists who at the time were members of the Namibia National Students Organization (Nanso).
To date the organisation has not held an elective congress.
Attempts to get comment from Kavau yesterday on his suspension proved futile at the time of going to print.
[email protected]
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