TABLE OF CONTENT
1. PREAMBLE
2. POLITICAL VALUE STATEMENT
3. OBJECTIVES AND VALUES
4. NAME
5. LEGAL NATURE AND PERSONALITY OF LPM 6. STRUCTURE
7. POWERS
8. NATIONAL YOUTH ASSEMBLY
9. THE YOUTH CONVENTION
10. VOTING
11. THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITEE
12. NATIONAL MANAGEMENT COMMITEE
13. REGIONAL STRUCTURES
14. CONSTITUCENCY STRCTURES
15. CONSTITUCENCY ASSEMBLY
16. MEMBERSHIP
17. DISPLINARY PROCEDURE
18. FINANCES
19. DISPUTE AND RESOLUTIONS
20. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
21. PROCEDURE
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22. RELATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANISATION
23. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION MERGERS AND DISSOLUTION
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1. PREAMBLE
1.1 We the founding members and volunteers of the Landless People’s Movement Youth Command Element celebrate the established of the Landless People’s Movement Youth Command Element as a youth wing of the mother body, the Landless People’s Movement determined to promote the interests of young people in Namibia and Internationally.
1.2 We hail from all the fourteen regions of our Namibia; representative of all our people; to begin the restoration of the promise of our great nation and to offer the hope of a better future for every Namibian, of every generation.
1.3 The Landless People’s Movement Youth Command Element is a Youth Wing that seek to promote the interests of the youth. The LPM Youth Command Element derives its existence from the constitution of the LPM, it is governed by and adhered to the policies and programmes of LPM.
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2. POLITICAL VALUE STATEMENT
The Landless People’s Movement Youth Command Element believes:
- 2.1 To protect, prepare for and defend the future of our nation and its children, by the creation of all necessary instruments, including funds, for advance research and development, science and industry in order to be globally competitive and innovative, and enable economic growth as well as development and the equitable distribution of the benefits of economic growth.
- 2.2 To support the arts and humanities; and to constantly and deliberately develop leadership in all spheres of society, including in the political, business, cultural, industry, technical, scientific and academic domains of society.
- 2.3 To mentor and enhance young Namibians of all walk of life, introduce mentorship programs in communities, and support young women and girls to reach their full potential.
- 2.4 To encourage the youth to participate in the law making processes, and to be involved in political discourse.
- 2.5 To discourage the present racial discrimination among the youth.
- 2.6 To ensure that political leaders and journalists discuss the issues related to youngNamibians.
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3. OBJECTIVES AND VALUES
The Landless People’s Movement Youth Command Element aims to:
3.1 Promote the interest of the youth and the mobilization to of the youth to LPM, to advance the interest of this vital political constituency.
- 3.2 Promote social-economic rights of Youth and Student’s in Namibia.
- 3.3 Advocate for quality and equal access to education at all learning institutions.
- 3.4 Promote Pan-Africanism among Youth and Student’s.
- 3.5 Decolonize of the curriculum.
- 3.6 The Landless People’s Movement Youth Command Element aspires to meet its objectives
by:
3.6.1 Introducing and leveraging education and training systems for the challenges and opportunities of the modern era.
3.6.2 Establishing Youth Command structures at local, regional and national levels. 3.6.3 Stimulating political consciousness among young Namibians.
3.6.4 Debating and analysing the social and contemporary issues.
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4. NAME
4.1 The Political Wing hereby constituted shall be known as the Landless People’s
Movement Youth Command Element.
4.2 Its abbreviated name shall be LPM YCE.
4.3 LPM YCE is a registered political youth wing of LPM which will support the ideals,
values and principles of the party.
5. LEGAL NATURE AND PERSONALITY OF LPM
5.1 LPM YCE is a registered political youth wing of LPM as such in terms of Section 28 of the
LPM Constitution. 5.2 LPM YCE shall:
- 5.2.1 Exist in its own right, separately from its members.
- 5.2.2 Continue to exist even when its membership changes and there are different office bearers;
- 5.2.3 Be able to own moveable and immovable property and other possessions; and
- 5.2.4 Be able to sue and be sued in its own name.
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6. STRUCTURES
The organizational structure of LPM shall consist of:
- a) Secretary
- b) Deputy Secretary
- c) Operative Secretary
- d) National Spokesperson
- e) Treasurer- General
- f) Deputy Treasurer-General
- g) Secretary of higher education
- h) Secretary of legal Affairs
- i) Secretary of International Relations
- j) Secretary of Social development and Community Engagement
7. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
7.1. The powers and Functions of LPM YCE is derived from the LPM constitution.
7.2. As such, the main purpose of LPM YCE is to be the connection between the mother body of LPM and the youth in the country.
7.3. The functions of LPM YCE will be as follows:
7.3.1. Coordinate between places of higher education and youth league.
7.3.2. Create spaces for honest dialogue between students and ruling powers.
7.3.3. Creating platforms where actions, practices and policies of LPM can be discussed and amended, so as to empower the youth.
7.3.4. The establishment of a forum to groom leaders of tomorrow.
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8. NATIONAL YOUTH ASSEMBLY
- 8.1 The supreme governance, policy-making and elective body of LPM YCE. It is the highestdecision making body; and is the exercise of genuine democracy as espoused within theobjective conceptual and practical interpretation of LPM YCE.
- 8.2 It shall be held at least once every four years and by December in the year preceding theNational Elections, except for the year in which LPM YCE is formed.
- 8.3 It shall be held at such date and venue as determined by the and upon not less than 30 (thirty) days’ prior written notice given to members. This notice shall include a preliminary agenda,the audited financial statements, and a report from the national leadership of the movement.
8.4 An Extraordinary National Youth Assembly
8.4.1 At the request of a two thirds majority of the national leadership through the National Youth
Convention, or
8.4.2 At the request of a two thirds majority of a Regional Youth Action Committee; throughout the country, or
8.4.3 At the signed request of at least two thirds of the registered members of LPM YCE.
8.4.4 All decisions of the National Youth Assembly shall be binding on LPM YCE members.
8.4.5. The Secretary shall act as the Chairperson of the National Youth Assembly.
8.4.6 The constitutive body of the National Youth Assembly shall comprise the following representative who are entitled to attend the:
8.4.7 Representative from each Constituency Committee;
8.4.8 All elected National Youth leaders;
8.4.9 The office bearers of the Regional National Assembly;
8.4.10 The office bearers of the Regional Organizing Committees; and
8.4.11 Elected delegates of the LPM Youth Command Element Political Action Committee members.
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8.4.12 Only members who are in good standing and properly mandated by the above can attend and vote,
8.4.13 MinutesofallNationalYouthAssemblyandanattendanceregisterwillbekept.Thesewill be open for inspection by members.
8.5 The National Youth Assembly Shall:
8.5.1 Adopt the minutes of the previous National Youth Assembly;
8.5.2 Determine and review the policies, constitution and programmes of LPM YCE and strategic direction for the next five years.
8.5.3 Have the right to ratify, alter or rescind any decisions taken by any of its bodies at regional and local/district level;
8.5.4 Deliberate on the Secretary’s report, the Operative Secretary’s Organizational report and Treasurer-General’s financial report for the preceding five years;
8.5.5 Consider any reports submitted from regional and or local/district level; these must be submitted 30 days before date of congress.
8.5.6 Elect the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Operative Secretary, the Treasurer-General, the Media Liaison and all other office bearers of the Convention, subject to procedures and policies which are to be drawn up by the National Youth Assembly.
9. THE YOUTH CONVENTION
9.1 The Youth Convention shall be the second highest collective decision making body of LPM YCE in between Assemblies, and is tasked with implementing decisions of Assemblies, which includes the youth organizational policies, and the strategic and tactical activities of LPM YCE. It shall have general responsibility for the affairs of LPM YCE between Assemblies.
9.2 When the National Youth Assembly is not in session, the Convention shall be the highest collective decision making body and governing body of LPM YCE.
9.3 Every member of the Convention shall be bound by this Constitution. 10
9.4 The Convention shall meet at least once every three months, at a date, time and venue to be prescribed by the Chairperson.
9.5 The Convention may at its discretion invite any person to attend its meeting on such conditions as it may determine, provided that a person so invited shall have no voting right, and is done in writing in line with the decision of the Convention.
9.6 A majority of the members of the Convention shall constitute a quorum of any meeting held of the Convention.
9.7 The Convention shall consist of national youth office bearers elected at the National Youth Assembly, namely:
9.8 Secretary ; as the overall youth leader of the movement, being the principal activist for change, shall provide strategic and tactical vision to the youth wing; shall present annual “LPM YCE call for action” statement and ‘political analysis’ report the National Youth Assembly and Convention.
10. VOTING
10.1 Every voting member present shall have only one vote.
10.2 Voting at the National Youth Assembly shall be by secret ballot. 10.3 Members shall not be able to vote by proxy.
11. THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
11.1 Will be the forum where the policies of the LPM YCE will be crafted.
11.2 The YCE PAC will be tasked with the dissemination of information from mother body, the analyses of policies and the giving direction to the youth wing of LPM.
11.3 as a new established body, the LPM YCE will be tasked to assimilate the needs of youth and
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12. NATIONAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
12.1 The National Management Committee shall comprise of Secretary and Deputy Secretaries of each recognized constituencies.
13. REGIONAL STRUCTURES 13.1 Operative Secretary
13.2 Deputy Operative Secretary 13.3 Treasury General
13.4 National Regional Commissars 13.5 Regional Spokesperson
14. CONSTITUCENCY STRCTURES
14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5
15.
Chairperson
Deputy Chairperson Treasury General Constituency coordinator
Media liaison officer
CONSTITUCENCY ASSEMBLY
The constituency shall take place once every year at the place where leaders of each constituency deem necessary to take place.
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16. MEMBERSHIP
16.1 Membership of Youth Command Element is voluntary and shall be open to:
16.2 Any Namibian and Non-Namibian age 16-35 who accepts the Constitution of Youth Command Element , joins a local youth structure and actively participate in the Youth Wing, pay their membership fee may become a member.
16.3 Any Namibian and Non- Namibian who are registered as learners and students at Secondary schools, Institutions of Higher Education , Vocational Training Centers willing to be under the political and ideological guidance of the Landless People’s Movement and the LPM Youth Command Element may become a members.
16.4 All members shall comply with the provisions of this constitutions and as well as the aims, objectives, principle and policies of the LPM YCE.
16.5 All members shall be issued with a membership card annually with a payable fee of affiliation to the organization.
16.6 No persons may occupy position in the student command element if he/she is not a registered student.
17. MEMBERSHIP FEE
17.1 Members shall pay an annual subscription fee as determined by the National Management
Committee from time to time.
18. SEQUESTRATION OF MEMBERSHIP
18.1 A member‘s membership may be suspended or terminated:
18.2 If such member stand in conflict with the constitution and rules of the wing will be discipline according to the constitution and rules which he or she has violated.
18.3 If such a member have membership with any other political youth wing except the Youth Command Element.
18.4 If such a member wishes to cease its membership with Youth and Student Command. 13
18.5 Upon death; or severe incapacitation,
19. RIGHTS OF MEMBERSHIP
19.1 Every member of the LPM Youth Command Element shall have the right to vote:
19.2 To participate and vote in any elections held by Youth Command Element in accordance with its rules and regulations.
19.3 To be elected in any office in Youth Command Element as an office bearer.
19.4 To participate in meeting and activities organize by the Youth Command Element.
20. DUTIES OF MEMBERSHIP
20.1 To be loyal to the Youth Command Element.
20.2 Actively engage in the political activities of the Youth Command Element. 20.3 Promote and defend the principles of the Youth Command Element.
20.4 Uphold the values and principle of the Youth Command Element constitution. 21. DISPLINARY PROCEDURE
21.1 A committee shall be appointed and therefore disciplinary would thus take place. The suspended leaders would have an option to represent themselves or be presented by an external or internal representative
22. FINANCES
22.1 The LPM Youth Command Element shall open a bank account with any commercial bank in
Namibia.
22.2 The LPM Youth Command Element should adopt a Finance Policy which shall outline the methods of raising funds, their utilization and general disbursement at constituency, regional and national levels. This document shall emphasize that proper financial records be kept, including all receipts, and expenditures with regular evaluation of all assets of the LPM YEC made.
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23. DISPUTE AND RESOLUTIONS
23.1 Appointment of Mediation Panel.
23.2 The National Management Committee or Founding Executive during transitional phase or Regional Political Action Committee, shall appoint on a case by case basis a panel of 2 (two) or 3 (three) people to mediate any dispute that may arise in the party from time to time.
23.3 The National Management Committee/Founding Executive/Regional Political Action Committee shall have the power to refer any dispute to any relevant constitutional structure of the party as it sees fit.
24. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS
24.1 To mobilize youth and students to join the Party.
24.2 To ensure that youth and students are fully involved in all party activities including policy making events and activities.
24.3 To formulate and carry out training programmes for youth and students.
24.4 To mobilize the youth and students in the country to unite behind the LPM and actively participate in the struggle for change to create a detribalized, non-sexist, non-racial, united, democratic and prosperous society.
24.5 Ensure that young people make a full and rich contribution to the work of Youth Command Element and the nation.
24.6 Support and reinforce the Youth Command Element in the attainment of its national democratic project goal(s).
24.7 Promote unity, debate and enhance positive criticism among the youth and students.
24.8 Fight for children’s rights as enshrined in the United Convention on the Rights of the Child,
The African Charter on the Rights of the Youth.
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25.9 Work for social, political, economic and cultural upliftment of the youth and students to ensure that the Youth Command Element Government creates equal opportunities for the youth to enable them to live a decent and meaningful life.
25.10 Promote the ideas of gender equity and equality in all facets of life and structures especially amongst the youth and students.
24. RELATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANISATION
25.1 LPM Youth Command Element shall enter agreements with any youth organizations, institutions including academic institutions, research centers, individuals and associations that align with the political philosophy and objectives of LPM. Such agreements shall approved by two-thirds majority of members present at a meeting of the National Youth Political Action Committee called for that purpose.
25.2 LPM Youth Command Element should foster friendly relations and maintain bonds with local, regional and international youth organizations if it promotes or align with the political philosophy, strategic and tactical objectives of the movement.
26. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION MERGERS AND DISSOLUTION
26.1 This Constitution, as has been adopted, repeals all other Constitutions previously adopted by
LPM YCE and becomes the governing document of LPM YCE and all its members.
26.2 This Constitution becomes effectively binding, enforceable and applicable forthwith upon signatures thereon by the members of the Founding Executive Committee.
26.3 After the founding phase, this Constitution may be amended by resolution.
26.4 A resolution to amend this Constitution shall be agreed upon and passed by not less than two
thirds of the members present at a People’s Assembly or Extraordinary People’s Assembly.
26.5 Two thirds of the members shall be present at the People’s Assembly or Extraordinary People’s Assembly, as the case may be (“the quorum”) before a decision to amend the constitution is taken.
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26.6 A written notice must go out not less than 30 (thirty) days before the People’s Assembly or Extraordinary People’s Assembly at which the amendments to the constitution are going to be proposed. The notice must indicate the proposed amendments to the constitution that will be discussed at the People’s Assembly or Extraordinary People’s Assembly, as the case may be.
26.7 No amendments may be made which will have the effect of making LPM YCE cease to exist.
26.8 LPM may cease to exist or merge if at least two-thirds of the members present and voting at a People’s Assembly or Extraordinary People’s Assembly, as the case may be, convened for the purpose of considering such a matter, are in favor of dissolving LPM YCE or merging LPM YCE with any other party and consequently dispose of its assets.
_____________________THE END______________________