Founded 1969 Mother party SWAPO | Headquarters Windhoek, Namibia Magazine Oshinyanga | |
Secretary General Veikko Nekundi (acting) International affiliation International Union of Socialist Youth, (IUSY)
World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) | ||
The SWAPO Party Youth League (SPYL) is the youth wing of the SWAPO Party, the ruling party of Namibia. It shares the same principles as those of the SWAPO Party. SPYL was born out of the crucibles of the anti-colonial struggle for freedom and national independence, and embodies the same principles as those of the SWAPO Party. SPYL serves as an active, revolutionary, and militant transmitting belt of the SWAPO Party ideology, policies and programmes.
Contents
Foundation
SPYL came into existence in 1969 after the SWAPO Tanga Consultative Congress in Tanzania adopted a new constitution. In 1971, the International Court of Justice declared South African occupation of Namibia as illegal. At that time there existed pervasive disgruntlement in the country due to the Odendaal Plan that was going to initiate a homelands policy. The Namibian youth took decisive action resulting in extensive protests at major colleges and schools. This include the general strike of 1971 and 1972 which was a major turning point in the Namibian struggle for national liberation. There was also a schools' boycott in northern Namibia in 1973 against the Bantustan policy. These activities resulted in the arrest and imprisonment at Robben Island of many youth leaders, including Nashilongo Taapopi, Jerry Ekandjo and Martin Kapewasha among others.
Once the Portuguese revolution struck in May 1974, it was possible for Namibian youth to leave the country via Angola. Thousands of youth left Namibia between May and December 1974 to join SWAPO abroad, majority ended up serving in the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). Youth activist Keshii Pelao Nathanael, was the leader of the internal leftist-radical youth inside the country. He orchestrated most of these strikes. He was elected as the founding president of the SWAPO Youth League at Walvis Bay in 1974 before going into exile.
Structure and Organs
The National Organs of SPYL are established under the SPYL constitution and are chaired by the Secretary. This are the Congress, which is the highest decision making body of SPYL, the Central Committee, and the National Executive Committee. The SPYL constitution also makes provision for duties and functions of SPYL national office-bearers which are: