SWAPO Party Youth League facts for kids

Quick facts for kids SWAPO Party Youth League
Secretary General	Ephraim Nekongo
Founded	1969
Headquarters	Windhoek Khomas Region
Mother party	SWAPO
International affiliation	International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY)
Magazine	Oshinyanga

The SWAPO Party Youth League (often called SPYL) is like the youth club for the SWAPO Party. The SWAPO Party is the main political party that has been leading Namibia since 1990. SPYL helps young people learn about and support the same ideas and goals as the SWAPO Party.

How SPYL Started

SPYL started in 1969. This happened after the SWAPO Party held an important meeting in Tanzania and created new rules for itself.

Youth Action for Independence

In 1971, a big court called the International Court of Justice said that South Africa was illegally controlling Namibia. At this time, many people in Namibia were unhappy. They were upset about a plan called the Odendaal Plan. This plan wanted to create separate "homelands" for different groups of people.

Young people in the Youth League protested at schools and colleges. They also took part in a big strike in 1971 and 1972. This strike was a very important moment in Namibia's fight for freedom. In 1973, students in northern Namibia also boycotted schools. They were protesting against the "Bantustan" policy, which was similar to the "homelands" idea.

Because of these actions, many young leaders were arrested. They were sent to prison at Robben Island. Some of these leaders included Nashilongo Taapopi, Jerry Ekandjo, and Martin Kapewasha.

Leaving for Freedom

In May 1974, a big change happened in Portugal. This made it possible for young Namibians to leave their country through Angola. Thousands of young people left Namibia between May and December 1974. They wanted to join SWAPO abroad. Most of them ended up joining the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), which was SWAPO's army.

A young activist named Keshii Pelao Nathanael led the youth inside Namibia. He and his group helped organize many of the protests. Keshii Pelao Nathanael was chosen as the first president of the SWAPO Youth League at a meeting in Oniipa in 1974, before he also went into exile.

How SPYL is Organized

The SWAPO Party Youth League has different groups that help it make decisions. These groups are set up by the SPYL constitution. The main leader of these groups is the Secretary.

Main Decision-Making Bodies

• The Congress is the highest group that makes decisions for SPYL.
• The Central Committee helps guide the organization.
• The National Executive Committee helps manage daily activities.

Important Roles in SPYL

The SPYL constitution also explains the jobs of its national leaders. These include:

• The Secretary, who is also the SPYL President
• The Deputy Secretary
• The Secretary for Finance and Administration (handles money and office work)
• The Secretary for Information, Publicity and Mobilisation (shares news and gets people involved)
• The Secretary for International Affairs (works with youth groups in other countries)
• The Secretary for Labour and Justice (focuses on workers' rights and fairness)
• The Secretary for Education, SWAPO Pioneer Movement and Culture (looks after learning, youth programs, and traditions)
• The Secretary for Economic Affairs (deals with money and business topics)
• The Secretary for Health, Population and Environment (focuses on health, people, and nature)
• Two additional members who help out.

Who Has Led SPYL

Here are some of the people who have been leaders of the SWAPO Youth League:

• Keshii Pelao Nathanael, 1974 – 1976
• Ignatius Shixwameni, 1987 – 1997
• Paulus Kapia, 1997 – 2007
• Elijah Ngurare, 2007 – 2015
• Veiko Nekundi, 2015 – 2017 (acting leader)
• Ephraim Tuhadeleni Nekongo, 2017–present

Well-Known Members

Many people who were part of SPYL have gone on to do important things. Here are a few:

• Job Amupanda, who used to be the SPYL Secretary for Information.
• Jerry Ekandjo, a Government Minister who was a member of SPYL from 1963 to 1979.
• Natangwe Ithete, a Deputy Minister of Finance.
• Elia Irimali, the Governor of Oshana Region.
• Ndali Che Kamati, Namibia's Ambassador to Russia.
• Naftali Kambungu, Vice President of the World Federation of Democratic Youth.
• Kazenambo Kazenambo, a former Government Minister.
• Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, the current Prime Minister of Namibia.
• Peya Mushelenga, a Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.
• Charles Ndaxu Namoloh, the Minister of Safety and Security.
• Sackeus Shanghala, a former Minister of Justice.
• Pohamba Shifeta, the Minister of Environment and Tourism.
• Piet van der Walt, a Government Minister and businessperson.

See also

• Democratic Co-operative Party