No clear consequences for SPYL, Unam says
After deliberations with the Landless People's Movement (LPM) Youth Command on Wednesday, the University of Namibia (Unam) said it doesn't have a clear outcome after the Swapo Party Youth League's (SPYL) unauthorised political activities on its main campus last week.
SPYL organised a demonstration at the university despite a ban on political activities that came into effect in April this year, causing tremendous backlash from members of LPM, who had been stopped from handing out flyers at Unam on Monday.
"The ban is still in place. Giving any consequences for activities that took place is going to be me preempting things. SPYL explained themselves during the meeting and apologised for their actions," Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho said yesterday.
LPM has since released a statement saying the university's explanation "reeks of orchestrated political manipulation, designed to obstruct the very voices that have the most to lose - and the most to say - about the future of our nation".
"Today, [we] confronted the senior management of Unam in an urgent and decisive meeting regarding the outright suspension of political activity across all 12 Unam campuses. Unam management's claim that the suspension is due to a sudden influx of political requests from personalities is nothing more than a cover-up for what is truly a strategic move to muzzle dissent," it read.
The LPM Youth Command further said SPYL cannot be allowed to operate as a law unto itself, adding that the party is not interested in appeasement or half-measures.
"The university management's explanations have been found wanting, and their reluctance to act transparently has been laid bare. We demand the immediate restoration of political activity on campus," LPM added.
SPYL organised a demonstration at the university despite a ban on political activities that came into effect in April this year, causing tremendous backlash from members of LPM, who had been stopped from handing out flyers at Unam on Monday.
"The ban is still in place. Giving any consequences for activities that took place is going to be me preempting things. SPYL explained themselves during the meeting and apologised for their actions," Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho said yesterday.
LPM has since released a statement saying the university's explanation "reeks of orchestrated political manipulation, designed to obstruct the very voices that have the most to lose - and the most to say - about the future of our nation".
"Today, [we] confronted the senior management of Unam in an urgent and decisive meeting regarding the outright suspension of political activity across all 12 Unam campuses. Unam management's claim that the suspension is due to a sudden influx of political requests from personalities is nothing more than a cover-up for what is truly a strategic move to muzzle dissent," it read.
The LPM Youth Command further said SPYL cannot be allowed to operate as a law unto itself, adding that the party is not interested in appeasement or half-measures.
"The university management's explanations have been found wanting, and their reluctance to act transparently has been laid bare. We demand the immediate restoration of political activity on campus," LPM added.
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