Swapo Elders to focus on NSHR

SWAPO’S elders have announced plans for their fourth congress this week.

Kanana Hishoono, Secretary to the Elders’ Council, said on Friday that between 400 and 500 delegates will be in Windhoek from Wednesday already and that the congress will last until Saturday. Topping the agenda of the congress, which will be held under the theme ‘Elders for Peace, Unity and Social Progress’, will be perceived “threats to peace” by a “maliciously fabricated propaganda campaign” against the party and its leadership by “reactionary opportunistic elements led by a certain Mr Phil ya Nangoloh and his cohorts in the National Society for Human Rights”.”In a nutshell, the congress will discuss and deliberate on issues of national interest and concern, the strengthening and consolidation of national unity, especially within the rank and file of SPEC and the mother body, the Swapo Party of Namibia, as well as issues of social and economic development of our country and its people,” Hishoono said.The NSHR is under fire or having made a submission to the International Criminal Court to held Swapo President Sam Nujoma accountable for the disappearance of thousands of Namibians during the liberation struggle and shortly after Independence.Although the ICC was established after Namibia’s Independence and cannot investigate events prior to its existence, the NSHR is testing a clause which deals with “continuous violations” by claiming that Nujoma’s continued refusal to explain the whereabouts of the people was a continuous violation.Although the submission was made in November last year, the Court only informed the NSHR in July this year that it was weighing the arguments in their request.It is not clear when the Court’s decision on the matter will be made.However, the NSHR has come under heavy criticism for allegedly threatening national reconciliation by taking Nujoma, the driving force behind it, to the ICC.Swapo and its branches, together with the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), have described the NSHR as an enemy of peace while a private law firm, Metcalfe and partners, has set up a fund to raise money to defend Nujoma.Hishoono said the elders’ congress “will be filled with issues of national concern and interests”.At the end, the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, office bearers and a central committee will be elected.The congress will also nominate members to attend the Swapo Congress scheduled for November.Topping the agenda of the congress, which will be held under the theme ‘Elders for Peace, Unity and Social Progress’, will be perceived “threats to peace” by a “maliciously fabricated propaganda campaign” against the party and its leadership by “reactionary opportunistic elements led by a certain Mr Phil ya Nangoloh and his cohorts in the National Society for Human Rights”.”In a nutshell, the congress will discuss and deliberate on issues of national interest and concern, the strengthening and consolidation of national unity, especially within the rank and file of SPEC and the mother body, the Swapo Party of Namibia, as well as issues of social and economic development of our country and its people,” Hishoono said.The NSHR is under fire or having made a submission to the International Criminal Court to held Swapo President Sam Nujoma accountable for the disappearance of thousands of Namibians during the liberation struggle and shortly after Independence.Although the ICC was established after Namibia’s Independence and cannot investigate events prior to its existence, the NSHR is testing a clause which deals with “continuous violations” by claiming that Nujoma’s continued refusal to explain the whereabouts of the people was a continuous violation.Although the submission was made in November last year, the Court only informed the NSHR in July this year that it was weighing the arguments in their request.It is not clear when the Court’s decision on the matter will be made.However, the NSHR has come under heavy criticism for allegedly threatening national reconciliation by taking Nujoma, the driving force behind it, to the ICC.Swapo and its branches, together with the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), have described the NSHR as an enemy of peace while a private law firm, Metcalfe and partners, has set up a fund to raise money to defend Nujoma.Hishoono said the elders’ congress “will be filled with issues of national concern and interests”.At the end, the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, office bearers and a central committee will be elected.The congress will also nominate members to attend the Swapo Congress scheduled for November.