2 BLA Campus BLA BLA News Exero <strong>Edition</strong> 01, 55553 ErIUSTIO Vote <strong>of</strong> no confidence! - Freeman Ngulu Andreas Shifotoka claims to lead a movement <strong>of</strong> students who are calling for a vote <strong>of</strong> no confidence towards both the SRC for Recreation and SRC for Culture. The ‘one man movement’ as it is called by the SRC Vice-President Nicky Mutenda, is considered by him as nothing but a smear campaign driven by his (Shifotoka’s) ambition to run for <strong>of</strong>fice in the Student Representative Council . Shifotoka claims that with regard to SRC <strong>of</strong> Recreation, he has been deemed incompetent in fulfilling his mandate and thus certain procedures need to be followed as per constitution. Andreas Shifotoka made it clear that students can take action against this SRC who has failed to deliver. The SRC for recreation has apparently only fulfilled a sequence <strong>of</strong> 6 events within 196 school days compared to the previous SRC with 100 events in the same time frame. Shifotoka also claims that this left Recreation, Paulus Andreki, with little duty on most, if not all <strong>of</strong> these events which took place in accordance with other SRC departments. He claims that SRC Recreation only catered for two groups <strong>of</strong> students; the drinkers, which in his opinion “the recent survey pool by the UDEBSO found drinkers as the minority on this campus” and with sports being the other need that was catered for. The SRC Vice President (VP) refuted these claims and said that the claims do not hold any substance, “no SRC department carries out an event on its own and as a council we work together”. On the issue <strong>of</strong> events, the VP claims that certainly more than 6 events were organized and that Society Chairpersons can confirm that. Andreas Shifotoka’s ‘movement’ is said to be gaining steam as they try to sign a petition <strong>of</strong> 10% <strong>of</strong> the student population, which would equal a 1000 signatures. He says that he has no doubt that they will exceed their target, and actually double the required number. Until this has been done their upheaval would have been in vain as stated in the constitution. The groups <strong>of</strong> students are also asking for; a vote <strong>of</strong> no confidence in the case <strong>of</strong> SRC for Recreation, no rebate and no recommendation from the <strong>University</strong>. He gave the example <strong>of</strong> the inter-block tournament which was supposed to be held in April Nicky Mutenda, SRC- Vice President but happened 7 months down the line. These claims were further refuted by the VP and again he stated that he believes Andreas is motivated by his ambitions to run for <strong>of</strong>fice and he must prove him wrong by not running for <strong>of</strong>fice. He argues that the complaints were to be submitted to his <strong>of</strong>fice and not at the General Student Assembly, because ‘that was making a mountain out <strong>of</strong> an anthill bacause he is hungry for power’. With regard to the petition, which the VP does not believe will be achieved, it would have to be tabled in the student parliament and if they decide whether the allegations hold any water and then a vote <strong>of</strong> no confidence is decided in the GSA. Andreas Shifotoka claims that no other SRC member came to the defense <strong>of</strong> SRC for Recreation (Paulus Andreki) during the 2nd semester GSA and that alone speaks volumes. He also calls for a public apology by the SRC Vice President after a verbal exchange with him where Nicky Mutenda said “you’re a boy, you do not have anything, you will not go far with this, we are the ones with power not you”. The VP does not shy away from the fact that he did say this and feels that he does not owe Shifotoka a public apology, because the words were not said publicly and even in the case <strong>of</strong> a private apology he would rather withdraw some <strong>of</strong> his inappropriate statements. Another issue Shifotoka brought up was that <strong>of</strong> the cultural festival theme which he thought was discriminatory <strong>of</strong> international students, the VP is apparently commented on this by saying that the international students are nothing and UNAM is for <strong>Namibia</strong>ns’ first and if they have a problem they should lobby it in their own countries and that Andreas Shifotoka is discriminating against <strong>Namibia</strong>ns. It is with these statements that he asks for a public apology. When asked for comment, SRC- Vice President refuted the allegations by saying “the theme was submitted by an international student who won N$500.00, if Shifotoka is so concerned by the theme why didn’t he submit a theme for the festival theme competition? He should not be a self appointed Leader <strong>of</strong> International students they have voted for us as their leaders not him.” In his final remarks he states that their intent is not to create havock but rather to stop blaming management for problems when our own system is showing incompetency, and that the structures put in place to be followed. Ed i t o r i a l The closer we get to the end <strong>of</strong> the year the more challenges we seem to face, but we have also become more determined to finish what we started. I personally am disturbed by the events that have presented themselves over the past semester such as the inability to get too much done, because <strong>of</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> challenges. This issue is the first edition <strong>of</strong> the two issues planned for this semester and just a step closer to attaining what we want to achieve. It amazes me when people expect you to conjure up a great edition that is supposed to make both students and management happy, when they do not want to buy equipment. They buy you one camera when you have a big team <strong>of</strong> reporters who all have different stories to report on, sometimes at the same time. The paper is expected to run without a single computer. For two years it has been said ‘next year’, but next year never comes. One needs a whole lot <strong>of</strong> strength and strong will to deal with all the politics that surrounds the student council. Many people have criticised us for not doing a good job but I would like to see how far they get running this paper. The dirt has been hidden for too long and painting a pretty picture has done nothing but hide all the muck that we have allowed to settle. It’s about time that the lies are exposed and the students are told the truth about what is going on around them. You have the right to know what is going on around you and fight to get back what is yours.This issue is the beginning <strong>of</strong> a lot <strong>of</strong> things to be uncovered. Printed by FreePress Printers Graphics and Layout Sebastian Manuel Campus News will be going out with a big bang, so watch this space for so much more. Editor-In- Chief Matilda Shiweda Diana Amunyela
Campus Exero 01, 5555 News BLA <strong>Edition</strong> BLA BLA 3 3
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