Former Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement chairperson for the Omusati region, Saara Iiyenda, has rejoined Swapo.
Iiyenda was welcomed back to the ruling party by Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa during a rally at Oshikuku on Sunday.
Speaking to The Namibian on Monday, Iiyenda confirmed her departure from the AR.
“When AR became a political party, I did not [want to] associate with it. I did not want to join any other political party than Swapo. I have been an AR activist all along,” she said.
She emphasised that she changed her mind and had “gone back home” [to Swapo].
“AR was a movement and I believe as former members of the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL), we were activists advocating for social justice.
“I have made a U-turn,” she said.
According to Iiyenda, when she announced that she had rejoined Swapo, she was immediately removed from all AR WhatsApp groups.
She noted that the AR has performed “quite [well] in the special elections” last week, although she could not say the ‘red star’ would win the elections.
Three other AR activists from the Omusati region rejoined Swapo alongside Iiyenda on Sunday, while another AR activist was also welcomed back by former SPYL secretary Elijah Ngurare at another party rally at Tsandi on Sunday.
Responding to Iiyenda’s return to Swapo, AR spokesperson George Kambala says the party is not bothered by Iiyenda’s defection, as she is not the first and will not be the last.
“We are dropping people at Swapo, the Independent Patriots for Change, and so on, but our train is cruising nicely,” Kambala adds.
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