Patience Makwele
A leadership dispute within the SWAPO Party Youth League (SPYL) in Kavango East has escalated after the regional executive committee suspended a senior youth leader pending an investigation — a move she has rejected as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
The suspension of SPYL regional secretary for information, publicity and mobilization, Bibiana Shapi, comes amid preparations for an extraordinary regional conference expected to fill the vacant regional secretary position following the resignation Anselm Marungu, who was appointed as deputy minister of environment, forestry and tourism.
In a letter dated 1 June and addressed to the SWAPO party regional executive committee through regional coordinator Ottilie Shinduvi, the SPYL regional executive committee announced Shapi’s suspension pending an investigation into allegations that she was involved in activities aimed at undermining the authority and unity of the regional executive committee.
According to the letter, Shapi is accused of participating in efforts to remove duly elected members of the regional executive committee.
“The decision to suspend Cde. Shapi was taken by the SPYL REC after receiving information regarding her alleged involvement in activities aimed at undermining the authority and unity of the regional executive committee through an alleged plot to remove duly elected REC members,” the letter states.
The regional leadership said the suspension was necessary to safeguard the integrity of the investigation process and stressed that the action should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt.
“It must be emphasized that this suspension is a precautionary measure and does not constitute a finding of guilt,” the committee stated.
However, Shapi has strongly challenged the decision, arguing that the suspension was unlawful and carried out in violation of the SPYL constitution and established disciplinary procedures.
In her response addressed to SPYL Secretary Ephraim Nekongo on Tuesday, Shapi rejected the suspension and accused certain regional leaders of pursuing factional interests under the guise of disciplinary action.
She further described the move as a “shameful factional exercise” aimed at dividing the youth league in the region.
Central to Shapi’s argument is her claim that the regional executive committee does not possess constitutional authority to suspend members.
According to her interpretation of the SPYL constitution, the regional leadership may only recommend disciplinary action to higher structures, which must then consider and approve any suspension.
“The attempted suspension is therefore not only null and void, but plainly unconstitutional, as it exceeds the REC’s constitutional mandate,” she wrote.
Shapi further claimed that no legitimate regional executive committee meeting was convened to discuss her suspension and that no formal disciplinary process had been initiated against her prior to the announcement.
She alleges that she was never informed of any complaint, investigation or hearing, nor afforded an opportunity to respond to the allegations before the decision was communicated.
Shapi alleges that the allegations against her are part of broader internal efforts to influence leadership processes ahead of the conference.
“The claims against me are trumped-up and without foundation,” she stated, adding that the move was intended to frustrate the implementation of decisions already taken by higher party structures.
Sources also raised concerns regarding the use of administrative materials in issuing the suspension letter, questioning how party resources and official stamps were utilised in the process.
In her appeal to the national leadership, Shapi called on the SPYL national executive committee to declare the suspension null and void, to investigate those responsible for what she termed factional conduct, and to ensure that the extraordinary regional conference proceeds without further delay.
Political observers note that disputes over internal procedures and succession processes are not uncommon within youth political structures, particularly when leadership positions become vacant and competing interpretations of constitutional provisions emerge.
The latest developments have now placed the matter before national SPYL structures, with attention turning to whether the suspension was effected in accordance with party rules and whether the extraordinary regional conference will proceed as planned.
At the time of publication, responses were still being sought from SPYL Secretary Ephraim Nekongo, Regional Coordinator Ottilie Shinduvi and members of the regional leadership regarding the allegations raised by Shapi and the constitutional questions surrounding the suspension.
