Nyamu’s fate still unknown

AN appeal by former Trade Minister Jesaya Nyamu against his expulsion from Swapo has been referred to the party’s Central Committee by last week’s Politburo meeting.

Although Swapo has yet to publicly reveal decisions taken at the Politburo meeting, sources said the meeting was informed by Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange that Nyamu had appealed against the decision to expel him from the party. However, the appeal was not discussed and was referred to the Central Committee meeting scheduled for December.Nyamu was expelled by the Politburo in December last year for alleged attempts to create a split in the party.Swapo President Sam Nujoma claimed that Nyamu hadpromoted division, violence and factionalism in the party and did not deserve to be a party member.He was banned from party activities or speaking on behalf of Swapo.Nyamu was a Politburo member of Swapo at the time he was expelled but did not attend that specific meeting.Some party insiders said his expulsion had been “long overdue” but Nyamu hit back by claiming that Swapo was under the “totalitarian” rule of Nujoma, who had caused division among members and destroyed collective leadership.At the time, Nyamu vowed not to appeal, since the ‘mother of cliques’ operating within the party, and led by Nujoma, would never afford him the chance to do so.Nyamu was expelled 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, apparently for supporters of former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya, who was dismissed by Nujoma in the heat of the presidential race.On one paper, Nyamu wrote: “For those still in Government, stay the course till March 21.Effect: endure humiliation; discourage loyalists; allow elections to go ahead as if nothing has taken place; Namibian image less damaged; consolidation of Nujoma’s group.”Option two, he said, was to “quit Government one by one and make strong statements to the press”.Nyamu, who nominated Hamutenya to take on President Hifikepunye Pohamba for the vice presidency of Swapo, never denied that he was the author of the notes.He was more interested in knowing how people got hold of the notes, which were concealed in his office while he was still Minister of Trade.Nyamu also said that Swapo was democratic and there was thus nothing wrong with putting his thoughts on paper.In his view, those with hidden agendas had to answer to a charge of theft from his office and the party had to investigate the reasons that led to his thoughts, rather than taking action against him.When the Politburo forced Swapo Youth League leader Paulus Kapia to resign as MP over his involvement in last year’s Avid investment scandal, some Swapo members thought the balance of power in the party had shifted away from Nujoma.Kapia was seen as a key ally of Nujoma.However, the appeal was not discussed and was referred to the Central Committee meeting scheduled for December.Nyamu was expelled by the Politburo in December last year for alleged attempts to create a split in the party.Swapo President Sam Nujoma claimed that Nyamu hadpromoted division, violence and factionalism in the party and did not deserve to be a party member.He was banned from party activities or speaking on behalf of Swapo.Nyamu was a Politburo member of Swapo at the time he was expelled but did not attend that specific meeting.Some party insiders said his expulsion had been “long overdue” but Nyamu hit back by claiming that Swapo was under the “totalitarian” rule of Nujoma, who had caused division among members and destroyed collective leadership.At the time, Nyamu vowed not to appeal, since the ‘mother of cliques’ operating within the party, and led by Nujoma, would never afford him the chance to do so.Nyamu was expelled 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, apparently for supporters of former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya, who was dismissed by Nujoma in the heat of the presidential race.On one paper, Nyamu wrote: “For those still in Government, stay the course till March 21.Effect: endure humiliation; discourage loyalists; allow elections to go ahead as if nothing has taken place; Namibian image less damaged; consolidation of Nujoma’s group.”Option two, he said, was to “quit Government one by one and make strong statements to the press”.Nyamu, who nominated Hamutenya to take on President Hifikepunye Pohamba for the vice presidency of Swapo, never denied that he was the author of the notes.He was more interested in knowing how people got hold of the notes, which were concealed in his office while he was still Minister of Trade.Nyamu also said that Swapo was democratic and there was thus nothing wrong with putting his thoughts on paper.In his view, those with hidden agendas had to answer to a charge of theft from his office and the party had to investigate the reasons that led to his thoughts, rather than taking action against him.When the Politburo forced Swapo Youth League leader Paulus Kapia to resign as MP over his involvement in last year’s Avid investment scandal, some Swapo members thought the balance of power in the party had shifted away from Nujoma.Kapia was seen as a key ally of Nujoma.