Suspended Nanso leaders hit back

THE Namibia National Students Organisation’s vice president Bernard Kavau says he has not been formally informed of his suspension.

Kavau and three other members – Tyson Hihanguapo, Simon Amunime and Sheya Ngolo – were suspended last week on charges of insubordination, among others.

Hihanguapo, the national secretary for information in the national executive committee, was suspended on allegations of theft by false pretenses, insubordination, bringing the organisation into disrepute, and harassment.

Amunime was suspended for alleged insubordination, harassment, using abusive language against members and bringing the name of the organisation into disrepute, while Ngolo was sent home on charges of insubordination, harassment, using abusive language against members, and bringing the name of the organisation into disrepute. Nanso’s secretary general, Simon Taapopi, said in a statement on Saturday that following a meeting of the organisation’s general students council (GSC) at Ongwediva earlier that day, the four members were suspended pending disciplinary proceedings by an independent disciplinary committee.

The statement added that all the suspended members were informed of their immediate suspension. Kavau, however, told The Namibian on Monday that he was not aware of the suspensions.

“As far as Nanso and myself are concerned, no one has been suspended. I have not been given any letter to that effect, so I remain the vice president of Nanso,” he stated.

He added that under the constitution, no member of Nanso can be suspended without going through a disciplinary committee hearing and stating their case.

Ngolo yesterday also said he had not been given any letter of suspension, nor was he aware of anyone who got it. Therefore, he does not take the matter seriously.

“I saw a press statement released by an illegal GSC, and we have not received suspension letters. Our lawyers will respond to their press statement tomorrow. On what basis are we being disciplined?” he questioned. He explained that the purpose of the GSC is to hold the national executive committee accountable, and that according to the organisation’s constitution, the GSC shall control the activities of the NEC, and shall have power to suspend any NEC member by a two-thirds majority vote.

Ngolo said the GSC consists of 28 members who have voting powers, and six of the 28 members pulled out because the GSC was illegal.

“It was constituted by some technical committee members, and some of us were told to leave the venue because we always question the unquestioned,” he stated.

He added that they have been demanding an audited financial report from the national executive committee because the regions did not get their budget ever since the 2017 congress, which resulted in them not attending the GSC.

“The secretary general violated article 19 of the constitution, and we are being suspended from the organisation for being radical. Nanso was established to fight against an unjust educational system,” Ngolo stressed.

Taapopi added that preparations for the disciplinary proceedings against the suspended leaders are well underway.

His statement said that during the suspension, the members will not exercise any duty in their capacities as Nanso members; will not attend any meeting or any of its structures, except for the purpose of the disciplinary hearing and the pending disciplinary proceedings against them.

“They will not address any Nanso meeting or any of its structures, whether as invited guests, and they will not make any public statement on any matter pertaining to Nanso,” he stated.