How RDP Got Where They Are

ALLOW me to join the discussion on the formation of a new party through your well-read newspaper.

I followed with keen interest the developments leading to the creation of RDP (Rally for Democratic Progress). And as a culture, one has to be blamed for one’s failure.Mr Jesaya Nyamu was expelled from the Swapo Party not by an individual but by the party Politburo and Central Committee meeting.It is his democratic right of course brought by the Swapo Party to form or join a party of his choice, hence the formation of RDP.A few days later Hidipo Hamutenya resigns from Parliament and calls a press conference to give a statement on his achievements through the Swapo party, well done Mr Hamutenya.What Mr Hamutenya forgot was to end his press statement with the following words, “All my achievements were through the Swapo Party, I am who I am because of the Swapo Party and all this was done under the leadership of the current Swapo President Comrade Sam Nujoma”.I am saying this because Mr Hamutenya in his own press release said that the biggest crime he committed was that of contesting for the Vice Presidency of Swapo Party, but then it is on record that at the extra ordinary congress in 2002 Hage Geingob demonstrated how democratic Swapo is by challenging the then Vice President Comrade Hendrik Witbooi, it was in this same year that one’s leadership ability in the name of Hage G Geingob was tasted.The President of the Republic of Namibia then, Sam Nujoma, demoted Comrade Geingob, but he never resigned from the party, and his contributions are still visible today.Unconfirmed statements have gone around suggesting that Hamutenya backstabbed Geingob when he lost his Prime Minister position, so what goes around comes around.Hamutenya has been for a very long time part of all the policy and legislative decisions that he now calls ‘failing’ which easily proves a point that even when we thought he was in Swapo as one of the collective decision making leaders, he was only there to become the President of Namibia, and now that he sees no chance the only alternative he has is to destabilise the progressive ideas within the Swapo Party.Mr Hamutenya, Mr Nyamu and their allies have been part of the Swapo-led Government, and most of them were given strategic positions that could help the economy of the country to either fail or prosper.Mr Hamutenya was at the Ministry of Information, then Trade and Industry and lastly at Foreign Affairs.Mr Nyamu was at Mines and Energy then Trade and Industry.The following projects failed; Amcom, DBC, NDC, and then Pidico failed in Caprivi, and then Ramatex is exploiting our people.Hamutenya was heading Ministry of Trade and Industry and Mr Nyamu took over, so which of the said projects are not their responsibility? Looking at all this proves how hungry this group is for power.Because both of them and their allies had to prove their leadership quality at this level before they could choose to climb any ladder, and given Swapo has clear structures, all the leaders should have respected structures instead of trying to think they are better leaders than others.Just because Hamutenya realises that Geingob is likely to take over from President Pohamba then that becomes reason enough to form a new party.So Mr Hamutenya and Mr Nyamu, I have news for you: you had your opportunities and blew them and now that you have realised other people are to get their turn you decided to come up with a new political party.Here is a piece of advice free of charge: please focus on drawing a clear vision statement for your party, a very clear manifesto and a list of all leaders or followers.Son of the Soil,Via e-mail, Note: Name and address provided.This letter has been shortened – EdAnd as a culture, one has to be blamed for one’s failure.Mr Jesaya Nyamu was expelled from the Swapo Party not by an individual but by the party Politburo and Central Committee meeting.It is his democratic right of course brought by the Swapo Party to form or join a party of his choice, hence the formation of RDP.A few days later Hidipo Hamutenya resigns from Parliament and calls a press conference to give a statement on his achievements through the Swapo party, well done Mr Hamutenya. What Mr Hamutenya forgot was to end his press statement with the following words, “All my achievements were through the Swapo Party, I am who I am because of the Swapo Party and all this was done under the leadership of the current Swapo President Comrade Sam Nujoma”.I am saying this because Mr Hamutenya in his own press release said that the biggest crime he committed was that of contesting for the Vice Presidency of Swapo Party, but then it is on record that at the extra ordinary congress in 2002 Hage Geingob demonstrated how democratic Swapo is by challenging the then Vice President Comrade Hendrik Witbooi, it was in this same year that one’s leadership ability in the name of Hage G Geingob was tasted.The President of the Republic of Namibia then, Sam Nujoma, demoted Comrade Geingob, but he never resigned from the party, and his contributions are still visible today.Unconfirmed statements have gone around suggesting that Hamutenya backstabbed Geingob when he lost his Prime Minister position, so what goes around comes around.Hamutenya has been for a very long time part of all the policy and legislative decisions that he now calls ‘failing’ which easily proves a point that even when we thought he was in Swapo as one of the collective decision making leaders, he was only there to become the President of Namibia, and now that he sees no chance the only alternative he has is to destabilise the progressive ideas within the Swapo Party.Mr Hamutenya, Mr Nyamu and their allies have been part of the Swapo-led Government, and most of them were given strategic positions that could help the economy of the country to either fail or prosper.Mr Hamutenya was at the Ministry of Information, then Trade and Industry and lastly at Foreign Affairs.Mr Nyamu was at Mines and Energy then Trade and Industry.The following projects failed; Amcom, DBC, NDC, and then Pidico failed in Caprivi, and then Ramatex is exploiting our people.Hamutenya was heading Ministry of Trade and Industry and Mr Nyamu took over, so which of the said projects are not their responsibility? Looking at all this proves how hungry this group is for power.Because both of them and their allies had to prove their leadership quality at this level before they could choose to climb any ladder, and given Swapo has clear structures, all the leaders should have respected structures instead of trying to think they are better leaders than others.Just because Hamutenya realises that Geingob is likely to take over from President Pohamba then that becomes reason enough to form a new party.So Mr Hamutenya and Mr Nyamu, I have news for you: you had your opportunities and blew them and now that you have realised other people are to get their turn you decided to come up with a new political party.Here is a piece of advice free of charge: please focus on drawing a clear vision statement for your party, a very clear manifesto and a list of all leaders or followers. Son of the Soil,Via e-mail, Note: Name and address provided.This letter has been shortened – Ed