Stefanus Nashama
Political analysts predict it will take time for young people returning to Swapo to build trust and receive party leadership roles.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said leadership principles do not drive such young people.
“What we are witnessing is that these young people rejoining Swapo are driven by positions and not really by the principles of leadership,” he said.
This year, with the most anticipated and challenging election in independent Namibia, a noticeable number of young people or leaders have returned to Swapo.
These include former Landless People’s Movement (LPM) deputy leader, Henny Seibeb, former Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker, Vipuakuje Muharukua, and former Affirmative Repositioning activists, Knowledge Iipinge and Simon Kanepolo Amunime.
Over 50 other youths, including Petrus Nakanyala, a former member of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and Oniipa councillor, rejoined Swapo over the weekend. In August, Swapo also welcomed 60 members from IPC and LPM.
Kamwanyah believes young people leave other political parties when they see their chances of obtaining positions being threatened.
“Although every individual has the democratic right to go where they want, such young people shouldn’t really be trusted for leadership because they might again leave tomorrow,” he explained.
Kamwanyah noted that many young people are eager to secure a job in parliament due to the country’s high unemployment rate. However, when they are unable to secure a position, they leave.
He added that the challenges brought about by election time often contribute to this outcome.
“Many things are happening within political parties during this type of election, including internal infighting. That’s why you see these young people going back to Swapo only now,” he said.
Political analyst Erika Thomas said it is concerning to easily trust someone who used to criticise you.
“I do not know what they are promised to join back, but they are exactly the same people they used to be. They can’t be trusted,” she said.
Thomas labelled such young people as immature, able to change direction easily and go wherever the wind blows.
“That is immaturity. A politically mature person listens, and there is wisdom in listening. You can’t go back to where you used to point fingers and call all sorts of bad names,” she reiterated.
Thomas noted that some young people who had called Swapo an enemy of progress were now returning to the party.
To her, this indicates that such individuals cannot be trusted politically, especially with the responsibility of serving the community’s needs.
“They are changing lanes because of positions. Trusting them is really a concern,” said Thomas.
Political science graduate Sakaria Johannes shared similar worries, asserting that Swapo cannot trust opportunists like these.
According to him, such individuals have no solid foundation and can be easily manipulated.
“Many of those young people rejoining Swapo have no focus on the ideology they follow. If they are promised positions and do not get them, they will still leave,” he stated.
According to Johannes, such youth will soon be “hanging in the air” because they do not know what they want.
“That is the same Swapo they used to call names. What makes them so special to go back now? That is the politics of the belly. All they want is to eat. In politics, even if you do not get what you want, you do not leave; you stick to the party’s ideology,” he stressed.
He advised people to embrace the ideology of political parties rather than joining them.
Johannes believes young people expect to get positions under the leadership of Swapo vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
He added that Nandi-Ndaitwah has been part of the same Swapo administration, and nothing will change even if she is elected into power.
“There is nothing special to be trusted by Swapo about such people because their intentions are not clearly defined,” he said.
Swapo’s deputy secretary general, Uahekua Herunga, said the party would trust each member regardless of when they joined.
“For a normal person under normal circumstances, what forces a person to join back Swapo? This is because they desire Swapo and can be trusted,” he said.
However, regarding leadership, Herunga said there are requirements within the party.
“We trust every Swapo party member. But in terms of leadership, some requirements determine if a member qualifies for any leadership position,” he explained.
