Stefanus Nashama
Student bodies have distanced themselves from a protest action to take place this Thursday as announced by social justice activist Michael Amushelelo.
Amushelelo informed the Namibian Police Force on Monday about the intended protest action, stating that many students have sought assistance from his political party, the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), to intervene in the matter.
“The beneficiaries of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), of whom a majority are students, have called upon the assistance and guidance of NEFF to champion their genuine demands. It is not correct that NSFAF has given our people false hope, and now they are failing to fulfil their promises,” he stated.
The protest is in response to the NSFAF’s failure to settle students’ monthly allowance, which was supposed to start on April 26.
Despite this, student bodies such as the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso), the Students Union of Namibia (Sun), and the Affirmative Repositioning Students Command (ARSC) on Tuesday distance themselves from the protest.
According to Nanso spokesperson Dorthea Nangolo, there shouldn’t be questions surrounding who should participate in the protest since the issue affects a majority of students.
At the same time, Nangolo indicated that Nanso’s leadership preferred to engage the matter genuinely and through dialogue, as it has done on many occasions.
“We have engaged NSFAF on the matter, and we will continue doing so. We are also currently engaging the line ministry, and we are still waiting for them to resolve the matter,” she said.
Nangolo added that while Nanso will attend the NSFAF’s press conference on Wednesday, students shouldn’t have opted for a protest.
She urged students not to involve themselves with politicising the matter while it is under discussion.
According to Nangolo, the NSFAF was experiencing technical issues, late invoice submission, and financial struggles, which delayed beneficiary payments.
The Affirmative Repositioning Student Command’s chairperson, Onesmus Iyambo, also said they were not aware of any student demonstration regarding the matter and that they were not part of it.
“We were not informed about such a protest. We just heard about it today. Hence, we are not part of it,” he said.
Bismarck Shikesho, Sun’s secretary of higher education, said they are also not part of the protest.
He emphasised that it is important to consider the outcome of the meeting with NSFAF.
“We have been in consultation with NSFAF, and the discussion around the matter is still ongoing. We are not part of that protest,” he said.
Shikesho urged students not to be misled by political entities and to stay away from politicising issues that are still under engagement.
The Namibian Students Financial Assistance Fund’s (NSFAF) acting chief executive officer, Kennedy Kandume, says questions concerning the delays in payments to students will be addressed at the press conference on Wednesday.
He also mentioned that questions concerning the protest will also be addressed at the same juncture.
“We have a press conference tomorrow. I think it is good that you come and ask any questions there. I will give your number to the colleagues that deal with the media,” he said.
Kandume reaffirmed that asking all questions at the press conference would be in the best interest.
In the letter, Amushelelo indicated that the students will gather at the Ministry of Higher Education, Training, and Innovation at 9 a.m. and march to the headquarters of NSFAF in Eros.
“There will be no handing over of any petitions whatsoever, just a demand for payments,” he informed.
He also stated that students will remain on NSFAF property until their bank accounts reflect the payments.
He has since urged the NSFAF to begin paying beneficiaries before the protest actions began.
