Swapo banishes Nyamu

JESAYA Nyamu, former Trade Minister, is no longer a Swapo member.Swapo President Sam Nujoma announced yesterday that the ruling party’s politburo, at a meeting on Wednesday, decided to expel Nyamu for alleged attempts to create a split in the party.

“Through his incitement of division, violence and factionalism within the Swapo party, the political bureau resolved that Mr Jesaya Nyamu is not worth Swapo party membership. Therefore, he has been excommunicated from the Swapo party and will no longer carry out any activity in the name of the Swapo party or speak and address Swapo party members,” Nujoma charged in a statement.Nujoma’s statement reached The Namibian before Nyamu had got wind of it.”I have not seen anything.I cannot comment until I get proper information.Something on paper will be professional.I need to know what the charges were,” Nyamu said when contacted for comment.Although a politburo member, he did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.One source claimed that Nyamu’s expulsion was “long overdue”.”After how they dealt with Kapia, it was clear that he (Nyamu) would go.The expulsion is a consequence of the divisions [within the ruling party] which started with the presidential campaign and also led to Kapia’s fall,” said another source.Nujoma alleged that Nyamu was guilty of “reactionary and divisive tendencies of factionalism and disunity” and that the Swapo leadership would “fight the negative vices tooth and nail” to maintain unity and discipline.The politburo, with a two-thirds majority, has the power to expel individuals while the Central Committee deals with the expulsion of groups.Nyamu was expelled after notes, expressing thoughts about the possibility of forming another political party, were found in his office last year.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 three years ago, never denied that he was the author of the notes.He was more interested in knowing how people got hold of the notes that were concealed in his office while he was still Minister of Trade.Nyamu also said that Swapo was democratic and thus nothing was wrong about having put his thoughts down on paper.For him, those with 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 Kapia to resign as MP, 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.Nyamu’s expulsion will feature at the party’s Central Committee meeting, expected to start this afternoon.Therefore, he has been excommunicated from the Swapo party and will no longer carry out any activity in the name of the Swapo party or speak and address Swapo party members,” Nujoma charged in a statement.Nujoma’s statement reached The Namibian before Nyamu had got wind of it.”I have not seen anything.I cannot comment until I get proper information.Something on paper will be professional.I need to know what the charges were,” Nyamu said when contacted for comment.Although a politburo member, he did not attend Wednesday’s meeting.One source claimed that Nyamu’s expulsion was “long overdue”. “After how they dealt with Kapia, it was clear that he (Nyamu) would go.The expulsion is a consequence of the divisions [within the ruling party] which started with the presidential campaign and also led to Kapia’s fall,” said another source.Nujoma alleged that Nyamu was guilty of “reactionary and divisive tendencies of factionalism and disunity” and that the Swapo leadership would “fight the negative vices tooth and nail” to maintain unity and discipline.The politburo, with a two-thirds majority, has the power to expel individuals while the Central Committee deals with the expulsion of groups.Nyamu was expelled after notes, expressing thoughts about the possibility of forming another political party, were found in his office last year.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 three years ago, never denied that he was the author of the notes.He was more interested in knowing how people got hold of the notes that were concealed in his office while he was still Minister of Trade.Nyamu also said that Swapo was democratic and thus nothing was wrong about having put his thoughts down on paper.For him, those with 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 Kapia to resign as MP, 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.Nyamu’s expulsion will feature at the party’s Central Committee meeting, expected to start this afternoon.