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The verbal attacks between the youth minister and leader of the ruling party’s youth wing has escalated – with both parties firing off heated insults yesterday. Author: WINDHOEK - ELLANIE SMIT The Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Kazenambo Kazenambo, has singled out Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) Secretary Dr Elijah Ngurare as the man behind alleged attempts to fire him.

Ngurare in response again called Kazenambo “a chicken on drugs” and said he would not even waste time on responding to any of the minister’s allegations.

The two men have unleashed a tirade of public spats in recent weeks and revelations in a local daily yesterday that the SPYL will formally request President Hifikepunye Pohamba to fire Kazenambo, has added weight to the already strained relationship between the two Swapo politicians.

Kazenambo told Namibian Sun upon inquiry yesterday that the SPYL has put a target on him, further alleging that his nemesis Ngurare was at the forefront of lobbying all the wing’s regional structures to rally behind plans to get him fired.

It was reported yesterday that a letter is currently being drafted by the SPYL and will have input from all the 13 regions on why Kazenambo should vacate his position.

Kazenambo has attracted criticism from various SPYL regional structures, such as Kavango and Erongo, who called on the Swapo leadership to intervene in the recent verbal spat between Kazenambo and Ngurare.

Ngurare drew the wrath of Kazenambo after he criticised the performance of the youth ministry and its supposed laxity in addressing challenges facing the country’s young people.

Kazenambo hit back in a rather strong vulgar tone, calling Ngurare a penniless political ghost whose background is shady. The minister vowed to dig deep in his own pockets to investigate the origins of the SPYL secretary.

Responding to reports that a wheel was in motion to flush him out of the Government system, an irate Kazenambo said: “The Swapo Youth League has never been as divided as it is under this man (Ngurare). I may go and there are those who are celebrating me going, but the division will not stop. I am not the problem. SPYL has gone down under his leadership.”

A fortnight ago, after some senior Swapo leaders met at State House for an unknown early evening business, talk spread like wildfire that the meeting had discussed the dismissal of Kazenambo. The rumour was quashed by many Swapo and Government leaders that Namibian Sun spoke to at the time, but the SPYL has now seemingly revived the process to send Kazenambo into political wilderness. The minister yesterday said the SPYL wants to prescribe to Pohamba what to do. “Come what may, I will not become a political orphan in this country,” he said.

“I will not be reduced to a secondary citizen.”

He added: “Why is this ministry being singled out? And why Kazenambo? They have placed a target on certain ministers that they do not like and I am priority number one.”

He said he is submitting reports and briefing Pohamba about the activities of his ministry and challenged the SPYL to produce records of its achievement under Ngurare.

“He is the one who is mobilising the youth in the regions to cover his dark past. Ngurare is undermining the peace and stability of this country, accused Kazenambo.”

Kazenambo has been caught in many controversies in recent years – verbally attacking journalists, calling for the legalisation of prostitution and calling for a non-Omuwambo person to succeed Pohamba as president.

But the unapologetic minister said: “I have never said anything in my life that I regret. I do not have regrets about my past or about my future. I am proud about myself and who I am - the role I have played. I do not regret anything. “

Approached for comment, Ngurare said: “When one is behaving like a chicken on drugs there is no time to waste on that.”

click to enlargeCHOPPING BLOCK: Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Kazenambo Kazenambo, has accused Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) Secretary Dr Elijah Ngurare of driving a campaign to have him fi red from Cabinet. © FILE