Swapo after the judgement

ACTING JUDGE Collins Parker’s judgement in the Windhoek High Court on Friday that nullified Swapo’s decision to expel its four youth leaders is seen by many as a triumph not only for the quartet but also for the ruling party itself.

In a landmark judgement, Parker declared that the Swapo leadership’s decision to expel Elijah Ngurare, Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, George Kambala and Job Amupanda from the party is unlawful and null and void. The ruling party must immediately reinstate the four as full−fledged Swapo members. The party was also ordered to pay 60% of the youth leaders’ legal costs. Judge Parker rejected Swapo’s arguments that the courts have no jurisdiction to intervene in internal party matters. He also found that the party circumvented its own constitution and disciplinary code when it expelled the four. Soon after the judgement, Amupanda said the judiciary proved that it stood for fairness and justice because there cannot be neutrality in a situation where an elephant stands on a mouse’s tail.