‘Thanks, but no thanks’

Nyamu says he is better off ‘partyless’ than going back to Swapo

Former minister of trade and industry Jesaya Nyamu is adamant that he will not go back to Swapo despite the ruling party rolling out the red carpet to former members.

Swapo have so far welcomed former Popular Democratic Movement parliamentarian Vipua Muharua and former Landless People’s Movement (LPM) second in command Henny Seibeb to their ranks.

Nyamu told The Namibian yesterday that he has no intention of rejoining Swapo, the party that expelled him in 2005 after secret notes were found in his ministerial office the previous year.

“I am feeling okay with the position I am in, where I don’t belong to any political party anymore. Taking into account my age, I don’t think there is any space for playing games. I am okay to be outside any other party. I will not reconsider it. Those who expelled me should go to the grave in peace,” Nyamu said.

Nyamu, who was a Swapo member for more than 40 years, formed the Rally for Democracy and Progress with his former cabinet colleague, Hidipo Hamutenya. Nyamu was the party’s secretary general.

Nyamu was expelled from Swapo after notes expressing thoughts about the possibility of forming another political party were found in his office in 2004.

The notes, written on four small pieces of paper, lay out two options for supporters of former foreign affairs minister Hamutenya, who was dismissed by former president Sam Nujoma in the heat of the 2004 presidential race.

Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga says the party is keen to welcome everyone who wants to join its ranks.

Herunga says those who were previously expelled from the party and wish to rejoin, including Nyamu, can notify the party if they want to rejoin.

“If a person is expelled from Swapo, he is expelled by the highest decision-making body of Swapo, the central committee,” he says.

Swapo on Sunday welcomed back former LPM deputy president Seibeb, who resigned from Swapo in 2017. Seibeb’s move has been criticised by many, especially because he has labelled Swapo corrupt in the past.

Herunga says those who keep referring to Seibeb’s previous pronouncements against Swapo lack political maturity.

“Comrade Henny Seibeb said what he said as a member of an opposition party. What do you expect a leader of an opposition party to say to the opposing political party? Do you expect him to be nice to you? What is the purpose of an opposition party?” Herunga says.

He says Swapo needs more individuals to join the party, and that Swapo, being a “democratic” party, welcomes everyone.

The deputy secretary general says Seibeb is welcomed back to ensure that “those who were misled either by him being a former opposition leader or by other opposition leaders, return back home.”

In 2022, Swapo vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said she will have no problem if the party’s prodigal sons, like Job Amupanda and Bernadus Swartbooi, return to its ranks, as they will be welcomed with open arms.

“As a party leader, I don’t have any problem with anyone who left the party coming back. They will be welcomed. They can start their life with the party and be part of the team that is moving the party forward,” she said at the time.