Christof Maletsky
8 August 2008
YOUTH, National Service, Sport and Culture Minister Willem Konjore has sacked his personal assistant, a Swapo youth activist, because of irreconcilable differences.
Hennie Seibeb confirmed yesterday afternoon that he got the boot at 11h00 Wednesday and was at home waiting for the letter to confirm his fate.
He has already handed in his office keys.
Seibeb and acting Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) Information Secretary Clinton Swartbooi have been at the centre of a controversy in which they were accused of neglecting their salaried jobs with Government in favour of carrying out SPYL activities.
Also, Seibeb's opinion pieces on Pan Africanism together with SPYL leader Elijah Ngurare and Swartbooi are said to have landed him in hot water.
Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Libertina Amathila put her Special Assistant Swartbooi on special leave to give him time to think about his position.
Some sources maintain that the two are also victims of internal conflicts within the ruling party's youth wing; that there are those among their peers who feel that they are rising through the ranks too rapidly.
Others claim they are being used as former President Sam Nujoma's shock troops.
Seibeb's firing comes barely three days after a tumultuous Central Committee meeting last weekend at which differences between some Youth League members and seasoned party leaders boiled over - despite Swapo Secretary General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana subsequently declaring that the party was "solidly united like a rock".
It also comes at a time when President Hifikepunye Pohamba is trying to mediate differences between the SPYL and some Ministers.
Recently, the President called some SPYL leaders and eight Ministers to State House to discuss the issue but it was decided that the whole Politburo should be involved.
Iivula-Ithana told the media on Tuesday that "moles" and "enemy propaganda" were hell-bent on creating an impression that there were divisions in the party.
She said last weekend's Central Committee meeting agreed there was a need for deeper understanding of the conditions in the country, a clear vision of the future and the ability to consider issues and act tactfully.
The CC also said they need to 'patch up' and move on and stop street fights, as they did not reflect well on the party.
A meeting will probably be held next week to take the discussions further.
Yesterday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Dr Peingeondjabi Shipoh, declined to comment on Seibeb's sacking.
"I am not his supervisor.
PAs are recruited by Ministers themselves and I don't know under which circumstances he was recruited.
Even if I am aware, what have I got to do with that," Shipoh said when asked to confirm the dismissal.
When pressed to confirm whether he had signed the dismissal letter as the principal officer of the Ministry, Shipoh said: "I've not signed it yet".
Seibeb said he was informed he should pick up the letter yesterday but was too busy to collect it.
SPYL is on record calling for all future appointments of personal assistants, special assistants and private secretaries to Cabinet Ministers to be screened by the ruling party.
A decision to this effect was taken last month by the youth wing's Central Committee.
After some of their members were taken to task for non-performance, or poor performance, the Youth League accused some Ministers of allegedly having become "allergic to SPYL leadership" and of allegedly avoiding having anything to do with their members.
In the past, the SPYL has also pushed for the appointment of ruling party loyalists in key Government positions and in parastatals - something that later became a Swapo Party congress resolution despite concerns about negative repercussions.
Another issue that has brought about differences between the youth and some senior Ministers is allegedly their stance on Zimbabwe.
Sources claimed tgat some Ministers were uncomfortable with the youth supporting President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwean government in public and had been approached by some diplomats who suggested that they request the youth to tone down their statements.
During a recent media briefing, Swartbooi said they would remain "patriotically stubborn".
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