Swapo party school dies with Hausiku
School turns into white elephant
With not a single student graduating from its ranks, the much-hyped party school has grinded to an agonising halt.
Less than a decade after opening its doors, the Swapo Party school has ceased operations, without any qualifications conferred to the about 200 students who sat in lecture halls to learn about the party’s political doctrine.
Insiders who spoke to Namibian Sun ascribed the closure to a lack of funding and little support from the party leadership since the death of the school’s founding rector Marco Hausiku last year.
The party school, a proposal made at Swapo’s 2002 congress, was launched in May 2016, with the aim to train party cadres in political education and leadership, and had close to 200 intakes.
Following Hausiku’s death in August 2021, Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa convened a meeting with the school’s staff members regarding the way forward.
She also serves as the chairperson of the school’s board.
“The secretary-general met with staff members and told them to put everything on hold until further notice. She came to the meeting with her deputy, Eunice Iipinge,” the source recalled.
The school last year called off plans to host its first-ever graduation ceremony after Hausiku fell ill.
“The first intake graduates were to receive their diplomas and the second intake certificates, while the third intake came and stayed for just a week and were sent back home. What makes matters worse is that the term of the board expired last year already, so even the board members are confused about the state of affairs,” sources claimed.
In full swing
Swapo spokesperson Hilma Nikanor yesterday denied that the school stopped operating.
The school is, however, pleading ignorance, with one of the lecturers Dr Charles Mubita taking Namibian Sun on a tour through deserted lecture halls, insisting that classes are in full swing. He referred queries to the party leadership.
Nicanor denied the closure of the school and said she is not aware that the party had ever decided to close the school for any duration.
“The school is ongoing; there are still graduates who have not finished their course, so I don’t think your information is correct. I am not aware of such a decision that was taken by the party.”
‘No right to ask’
The school contracted five permanent staff members and eight part-time lecturers who receive some form of stipend, and who are now afraid to confront the party leadership about the impasse.
“We have no right to ask,” one of the sources remarked.
When contacted for comment, Iipinge would not confirm nor deny whether the school is closed.
She said: “People don’t just wake up and decide to attend the Swapo school, they are selected through the party branches and structures. It is through these structures that students should get the information they seek”.
She also refused to comment on the financial state of the institution because “you can be sued for these kinds of things”.
She further rejected claims that the board’s term had expired.
“Where did they read in the letters that it [board term] is expired? These are just street things. Don’t buy people’s problems, let them go back to their leaders and find out.
“You know me, I don’t do rumours. Maybe they think the newspaper can solve their problems. If they know the party doesn’t have money, why are they coming to you? Ask yourself, is it to expose the party? They can come straight to me, I am the vice-chairperson,” she said.
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Insiders who spoke to Namibian Sun ascribed the closure to a lack of funding and little support from the party leadership since the death of the school’s founding rector Marco Hausiku last year.
The party school, a proposal made at Swapo’s 2002 congress, was launched in May 2016, with the aim to train party cadres in political education and leadership, and had close to 200 intakes.
Following Hausiku’s death in August 2021, Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa convened a meeting with the school’s staff members regarding the way forward.
She also serves as the chairperson of the school’s board.
“The secretary-general met with staff members and told them to put everything on hold until further notice. She came to the meeting with her deputy, Eunice Iipinge,” the source recalled.
The school last year called off plans to host its first-ever graduation ceremony after Hausiku fell ill.
“The first intake graduates were to receive their diplomas and the second intake certificates, while the third intake came and stayed for just a week and were sent back home. What makes matters worse is that the term of the board expired last year already, so even the board members are confused about the state of affairs,” sources claimed.
In full swing
Swapo spokesperson Hilma Nikanor yesterday denied that the school stopped operating.
The school is, however, pleading ignorance, with one of the lecturers Dr Charles Mubita taking Namibian Sun on a tour through deserted lecture halls, insisting that classes are in full swing. He referred queries to the party leadership.
Nicanor denied the closure of the school and said she is not aware that the party had ever decided to close the school for any duration.
“The school is ongoing; there are still graduates who have not finished their course, so I don’t think your information is correct. I am not aware of such a decision that was taken by the party.”
‘No right to ask’
The school contracted five permanent staff members and eight part-time lecturers who receive some form of stipend, and who are now afraid to confront the party leadership about the impasse.
“We have no right to ask,” one of the sources remarked.
When contacted for comment, Iipinge would not confirm nor deny whether the school is closed.
She said: “People don’t just wake up and decide to attend the Swapo school, they are selected through the party branches and structures. It is through these structures that students should get the information they seek”.
She also refused to comment on the financial state of the institution because “you can be sued for these kinds of things”.
She further rejected claims that the board’s term had expired.
“Where did they read in the letters that it [board term] is expired? These are just street things. Don’t buy people’s problems, let them go back to their leaders and find out.
“You know me, I don’t do rumours. Maybe they think the newspaper can solve their problems. If they know the party doesn’t have money, why are they coming to you? Ask yourself, is it to expose the party? They can come straight to me, I am the vice-chairperson,” she said.
[email protected]
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