Keetmanshoop — The Swapo Party in the Karas Region last Thursday warned against "hibernators" who pretend to be party members by day but show their true colours at night.

Swapo Party Karas Regional Coordinator, Matheus Mumbala, at the opening of the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) Karas Region Executive Committee meeting held over the weekend said the gains made by Swapo Party in the last 20 years should not go to waste by electing "the wrong leaders".

His speech was read by the Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency Councillor, Jims Christian, to an audience of about 25 delegates.

"Those gains," he said, "would further bloom if we shun hibernators and side with what is right, and walk shoulder to shoulder on the path toward truth and good governance."

"Expect that there are those pretending and those that are riding on our crusade.

"There are those putting on green, red and blue but it's uncertain what colours they are inside. Be vigilant, by doubly making sure there are no people who call themselves comrades during the day but at night they instigate loyal members against our mighty party," he charged.

"Let's make it a point to root out these people once and for all," he urged the SPYL delegates who cheered his words.

"These people use social media such as SMSes to further their activities," he said, warning against the politics of insult, alcohol abuse, regionalism, tribalism and nepotism that according to him could potentially derail Namibia's development.

"How are we to preserve the quality and value of the youth league when men and women who no longer qualify to be called youths attempt to get back in through the window?" he asked.

In her welcoming remarks, the Swapo Party Karas Region Youth League Secretary, Lydia de Bruyn, said she was deeply concerned about the alarmingly high level of alcohol abuse and misuse in the south.

"The lack of information sharing and educational interventions lead to this situation. Let's take it today as our challenge to bring back our youth to the political and economic mainstream," she said.