Stefanus Nashama
Spokesperson of the Affirmative Repositioning movement (AR) George Kambala yesterday said those who have been expelled from the Swapo party need not return their membership cards, explaining that “when students leave UNAM or any other institution, they do not give back their certificates or degrees”.
“Why should I give back my card if I was expelled from the party?,” he questioned.
Kambala said they have written to the Swapo Party informing the party that they were no longer interested in associating themselves with the Swapo Party’s activities, and as such they are no longer members of the party.
“When the party expelled us, we were no longer members of the party, and for that reason our memberships do not exist with them. There is no need to give back our membership cards since we were expelled. I personally have the Swapo membership card but it does not exist with them. If there is anyone who thinks that we will go back to Swapo simply because we have the membership cards, that will not happen,” he said.
He also indicated that being groomed in Swapo does not mean AR leaders associate with or support the Swapo Party indirectly.
“There is nothing like that,” he said.
He said AR differs from Swapo, and the movement’s ideology is completely different from their ex-party.
Kambala made the remarks after the Former National Spokesperson of the AR movement, Simon Amunime, publicly announced that he never resigned from the Swapo Party, and that he was supporting and campaigning behind the current Swapo Party Vice-president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in last year party’s congress.
He also revealed that the AR Chief Activist Job Amupanda still possesses a Swapo membership card that he carries in his wallet and that he never returned it.
Amunime was suspended from AR last year after he and AR co-founder Paulus Kathanga made damning allegations against Amupanda, accusing him of mismanagement and selfishness.
Kambala, Amupanda, Elijah Ngurare and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma were expelled from the Swapo Party in 2014 on the allegations that they contradicted the party’s Constitution.
Amupanda served as the Swapo Party Youth League Spokesperson.
“We do our things different ways. There is a difference between a membership card and being a member. Having membership cards does not mean we are still members. These memberships are not active with the Swapo Party. The movement was not formed at the pleasure nor directives of any Swapo Leaders as some people may think,” Kambala stressed.
He has since urged young people to take up the responsibility of leadership since they are the dynamics of the future. He has also encouraged young people to fight corruption, nepotism and inequality.
“We need more young vigilant and radical young people in this country. This is the reason we rendered support to the young, and vigilant Michael Amushelelo,” he said.
Amupanda did not respond to questions sent to him.
