New voice for students
After numerous reports of internal politics and disagreements in Nanso, a number of members have resigned and started their own student representative association.
Tunohole Mungoba
Founded by the frustrated Student Representative Councils (SRCs) of different tertiary institutions in Namibia and frustrated ex-leaders of the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) in September this year, the Student Union of Namibia (Sun) aims to be “the only genuine and independent representative of all students in the Republic of Namibia and Namibian students elsewhere.”
After claims of “political capturing” of Ester Simon, current president of Nanso, and various other executives this year, a number of media reports indicated political instability within the student organisation.
A Nanso press statement sent out in last month read: “The organisation is led by young people whose presence continues to disadvantage the students at large. There is a ‘mafia group’ operating within Nanso that is constantly compromising on the interests of students for political gain with the ‘big men of politics’.”
Simon Amunime, president of Sun, says the establishment of Sun was founded on the difficulties and suffering experienced by the majority of students in Namibia because of the only monopoly liberation struggle student body Nanso.
“The leaders of Nanso are captured by politicians and continue to please old people that are in power in exchange of its top leaders being rewarded with tenders, fishing rights, farms and jobs as administrative clerks and assistants to ministers and the State House,” says Amunime.
“It against that background that Nanso regional structures, branches, members and SRCs bodies at all universities resigned and abandoned Nanso because of political interference in the organisation, which created a need for an alternative student body.”
Sun was formed and launched on the socialist ideological basis of “free quality education in our lifetime”.
Amunime tells The Zone that their objective is to propagate the ideology that education constitutes the centre for development in Namibia, and that the political and economic freedom of Namibia depends on education.
In addition, their other aims and objectives include to advocate for the renaming of public institutions or places after Namibian heroes and heroines, to champion, defend and advocate for the rights, interest and aspirations of students and young people, to rally students and young people behind the vision of free quality education and economic freedom and to promote the ideals of gender equity and equality in all facets of life and structures.
So, what is the difference between Sun and Nanso?
According to Amunime, in terms of higher education, Sun will not be affiliated to any political party.
“The Sun leadership will dedicate their lives to the struggle for socialism, and will be resolute, fearless and surmount every difficulty to win victory, start the fight for better learning facilities on campuses and living conditions in hostels, and building higher learning institutions and student accommodation,” he says.
In the area of basic education, Sun aims to fight for adequate school infrastructure and rural electrification of all schools in all 14 regions.
“We will also advocate for a compulsory implementation of ICT curriculum in all schools by fighting for the establishment of computer labs in every school. Fight for the funding and building of public and community libraries both in rural and urban areas, specifically in informal settlements,” says Amunime.
After running an SRC manifesto campaign across all campuses to unite, organise and mobilise students, Sun recently defeated Nanso in the University of Namibia (Unam) main campus SRC election, in which Sun won eight of the 11 seats.
When asked for comment, Nanso secretary-general Simon Taapopi said there is no proof of the alleged political capturing of their executive structures.
“We at Nanso have nothing against our ex-colleagues that are now current leaders of Sun. We wish them all the best. However, it is not necessary to promote themselves by using the name of Nanso,” said Taapopi.
“It is also important to note that the current president of Sun, Simon Amunime, could not accept a democratic outcome after losing out on the Nanso presidency against Ester Simon. That is what led to their exit and them starting a new student organisation,” said Taapopi.
“We are also aware of Sun’s agenda and who they are linked to, but we do not aim to promote such. Despite the allegations from our colleagues, Nanso remains for the students and we always encourage our students to be involved in politics, but we can ensure our students that Nanso is not politically affiliated in any way.”
Ester Simon, president of Nanso, could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
Founded by the frustrated Student Representative Councils (SRCs) of different tertiary institutions in Namibia and frustrated ex-leaders of the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) in September this year, the Student Union of Namibia (Sun) aims to be “the only genuine and independent representative of all students in the Republic of Namibia and Namibian students elsewhere.”
After claims of “political capturing” of Ester Simon, current president of Nanso, and various other executives this year, a number of media reports indicated political instability within the student organisation.
A Nanso press statement sent out in last month read: “The organisation is led by young people whose presence continues to disadvantage the students at large. There is a ‘mafia group’ operating within Nanso that is constantly compromising on the interests of students for political gain with the ‘big men of politics’.”
Simon Amunime, president of Sun, says the establishment of Sun was founded on the difficulties and suffering experienced by the majority of students in Namibia because of the only monopoly liberation struggle student body Nanso.
“The leaders of Nanso are captured by politicians and continue to please old people that are in power in exchange of its top leaders being rewarded with tenders, fishing rights, farms and jobs as administrative clerks and assistants to ministers and the State House,” says Amunime.
“It against that background that Nanso regional structures, branches, members and SRCs bodies at all universities resigned and abandoned Nanso because of political interference in the organisation, which created a need for an alternative student body.”
Sun was formed and launched on the socialist ideological basis of “free quality education in our lifetime”.
Amunime tells The Zone that their objective is to propagate the ideology that education constitutes the centre for development in Namibia, and that the political and economic freedom of Namibia depends on education.
In addition, their other aims and objectives include to advocate for the renaming of public institutions or places after Namibian heroes and heroines, to champion, defend and advocate for the rights, interest and aspirations of students and young people, to rally students and young people behind the vision of free quality education and economic freedom and to promote the ideals of gender equity and equality in all facets of life and structures.
So, what is the difference between Sun and Nanso?
According to Amunime, in terms of higher education, Sun will not be affiliated to any political party.
“The Sun leadership will dedicate their lives to the struggle for socialism, and will be resolute, fearless and surmount every difficulty to win victory, start the fight for better learning facilities on campuses and living conditions in hostels, and building higher learning institutions and student accommodation,” he says.
In the area of basic education, Sun aims to fight for adequate school infrastructure and rural electrification of all schools in all 14 regions.
“We will also advocate for a compulsory implementation of ICT curriculum in all schools by fighting for the establishment of computer labs in every school. Fight for the funding and building of public and community libraries both in rural and urban areas, specifically in informal settlements,” says Amunime.
After running an SRC manifesto campaign across all campuses to unite, organise and mobilise students, Sun recently defeated Nanso in the University of Namibia (Unam) main campus SRC election, in which Sun won eight of the 11 seats.
When asked for comment, Nanso secretary-general Simon Taapopi said there is no proof of the alleged political capturing of their executive structures.
“We at Nanso have nothing against our ex-colleagues that are now current leaders of Sun. We wish them all the best. However, it is not necessary to promote themselves by using the name of Nanso,” said Taapopi.
“It is also important to note that the current president of Sun, Simon Amunime, could not accept a democratic outcome after losing out on the Nanso presidency against Ester Simon. That is what led to their exit and them starting a new student organisation,” said Taapopi.
“We are also aware of Sun’s agenda and who they are linked to, but we do not aim to promote such. Despite the allegations from our colleagues, Nanso remains for the students and we always encourage our students to be involved in politics, but we can ensure our students that Nanso is not politically affiliated in any way.”
Ester Simon, president of Nanso, could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
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