Affirmative Repositioning leader and chief activist Job Amupanda has cautioned his red army against possible infiltration by fly-by-night political opportunists masquerading as activists, while their main objective is enjoying the limelight that comes with association with the movement.
The land activist-cum-politician, in AR’s 2023 ‘Revolutionary Guide’, seemingly acknowledged that the movement was penetrated by what he termed “celebrity activists”.
This, according to Amupanda, is not surprising, as they may attract individuals who may not necessarily believe in their ethos but who “are attracted to the shine and prominence obtained from being an AR activist.
“These imposters may successfully infiltrate our movement and its leadership structures without notice. For this reason, all our activists must remain vigilant and behold those who seek fame and opportunities at the expense of our movement.”
He continued: “The AR constitution, on the obligation of members and organ tasks, specifically requires activists not only to be on the lookout for these tendencies but also guide on what needs to be done. The constitution, supported by political education programmes, is thus the remedy to the tendency of celebrity activists”.
Empty ‘tanks’
Last year, the AR house was engulfed by political infighting with former spokesperson Simon Amunime and election head Paulus Kathanga baying for Amupanda’s head.
In a scathing letter, they accused Amupanda of corruption and greed.
They also demanded a rotation of AR’s Windhoek municipal councillors to allow unemployed activists a chance to make a living from the city’s lucrative perks.
The two were later removed from their positions. Kathanga has since left the movement. AR’s co-founder, Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, has seemingly vanished into thin air as far as the movement’s work is concerned.
In the guide, Amupanda, who elected to remain quiet on the matter, broke his silence.
“They were allowed to test their popularity until their gas finished,” Amupanda asserts.
“We can confidently say that this matter, which electrified our detractors and naysayers, is left in 2022 where it occurred. We are taking into 2023 the positive lessons from our Bolshevik-Menshevik moment of 2022,” he said, adding that AR is now better placed to respond should there be any opportunist wishing to pursue the 2022 experiment.
Theorists
Responding to Amupanda, the two social justice advocates did not hold back, urging the former mayor to focus on the circus at the City of Windhoek.
In Kathanga’s eyes, Amupanda is a “theorist”.
“I don’t think it’s wise to give prominence to political non-entities but for the sake of the audience that subscribes to your newspaper, I’m compelled to respond,” Kathanga hastened to say. He continued: “Dr Amupanda is a theorist of note. That’s why he finds comfort in writing such long statement[s] without substance! What is [a] revolutionary guide? Guiding who? The author is the one who needs guidance”.
The former AR firebrand was not done.
“Induna himself is a failed project because of his obsession with power. It caused his failure at the City of Windhoek – and to add more salt, it’s the cause of the movement’s collapse. AR is a dead horse as we speak. Today, Windhoek has no leadership because of his thirst for power and his tendency of fighting and attacking individuals,” Kathanga charged.
Amunime, on his part, did not mince his words either. “Mid last year, I advised Dr Amupanda to refrain from personal attacks, spreading hate and insulting individuals, because that is not the values of leadership,” Amunine said. He has since graduated to the politics of “maturity”, he said.
“I have joined the class of maturity – and surely Dr Amupanda has a long way to go to migrate to our class. We are all adults now and our conduct in the public domain should be exemplary to the other youth and our children as well,” the activist said.
Efforts to solicit comment from Nauyoma were futile, as he is unreachable on his cellphone.
2023 roadmap
In the guide, the AR leader also lays bare the movement’s plans as it slowly but surely transforms into a full-blown political formation.
Late last year, around 300 AR activists met in Walvis Bay and adopted their constitution, following their efforts to re-organise, institutionalise and formalise (RIF).
“We enter the year 2023 ready to consolidate the gains from our RIF programme. For this reason, we declare the year 2023 as the year of revolutionary consolidation. We must prepare to emerge from 2023 more codified, strengthened, united and organised – consolidated,” Amupanda said.
Between now and August, AR will also elect its top leaders.
All indications are that the leftist movement is transforming itself into a fully-fledged political formation ahead of the 2024 general election.
“We [will] emerge with a fully-elected leadership through the conducting of the community activist assemblies, district activist assemblies, regional activists assemblies and the national activists’ assembly towards the end of the year,” he added.
The outstanding assemblies, Amupanda noted, constitute 35% of the incomplete component of the RIF programme.
AR, he said, will continue fighting for the removal of the controversial veterinary cordon fence (red line).
“All AR activists are, thus, directed to lead society without a position. Behave and conduct yourself as headman without that title. Conduct yourself as a councillor without that title. Conduct yourself as a director without that title,” the 35-year-old urged.
– emumbuu@nepc.com.na