In July, this publication ran an article titled ‘Amushelelo: Opportunist or Activist?… finds refuge in LPM’.

The erstwhile self-proclaimed forex trader-turned-politician, Michael Amushelelo, had just dumped the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters following their deregistration for non-compliance and joined the Landless People’s Movement.

This week, he shocked many and set social media abuzz after failing to secure a favourable spot on LPM’s parliamentary list.

Amushelelo was 31 on LPM’s list and withdrew immediately, claiming he had not earned the spot.

Two days later, like the Biblical prodigal son, he was unveiled at a NEFF press conference. Just like nothing happened, Amushelelo rejoined the NEFF after it was readmitted on the ballot following their tussle with the ECN. 

According to Amushelelo’s line of argument, he never defected the NEFF but simply sought political asylum in the LPM. According to him, it was a tactical move to sway away attention from the NEFF as it fought tooth and nail against its deregistration, a battle it ultimately won.

It remains to be seen if Amushelelo’s purported love for his countrymen is genuine or just another self-serving agenda to buy public sympathy.  In fact, lawmaker Maximalliant Katjimune took the news with a bucket of salt.

“We must start taking the electorate seriously. Voters are not children who can be taken for a joyride. Politics is serious business. This cannot be the standard of our politics. We must vote wisely on November 27,” Katjimune said on his platform.

But as campaigns hit the fifth gear, many aspiring and established politicians have been switching parties they were once diametrically opposed to.

A particularly high amount of high-profile party hoppers has been observed during this campaign. Earlier this year, two prominent members of parliament, former Popular Democratic Movement MP Vipuakuje Muharukua and Henny Seibeb, who was the deputy Landless People’s Movement leader at the time, quit their legislative jobs to join the ruling party.

The duo was once highly critical of Swapo to the extent that they traded jabs and insults with senior members of the party they now call home. Now, both leaders are key figures championing for the ruling party’s victory in this year’s presidential elections. Another notable figure who switched parties was former information deputy minister Engel Nawatiseb, who made a brief appearance in LPM this year.

He would later renege on the move to rejoin Swapo, describing the LPM move as just a job opportunity he took with both hands.

Not so long ago, former LPM //Kharas regional councillor Gerrit Witbooi also joined Swapo.

The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement was also not spared from the party-hopping trend either, with three of its members, Knowledge Iipinge, one of its founders Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, and Simon Amunime, leaving the movement.

While Iipinge and Amunime were unveiled at Swapo rallies this year, Nauyoma is rumoured to have also joined Swapo.

Putting the icing on the cake is this week’s marriage of convenience between Swanu and a breakaway faction of the National Unity Democratic Organisation under the stewardship of former Namibia Football Association head honcho, Barry Rukoro.

Through that arrangement, Rukoro features second on Swanu’s parliamentary list after losing his legitimacy battle as Nudo president.

How most political parties in Namibia vet their candidates leaves a lot to be desired.

In fact, you can join some political parties today and become a presidential candidate tomorrow. Whether your ideology or loyalty to this mass-based movement are in check is not even a secondary consideration.

Political analyst Rui Tyitende put it best when he said: “It is concerning, especially if it’s driven by self-interest because these individuals moving from one party to another often criticise Swapo as a corrupt party, yet they still join the very same Swapo they have been criticising.”

The analyst warned against “politics of the belly.”

“People are desperate, and they are in it for personal gain, promoting their own interests rather than acting out of ideological conviction or because the other party has lost value. People are hungry,” he said. 

But when it is all said and done, Article 21 of the supreme law of the land allows for freedom of association.

However, those who exercise this right, like all others – especially those in positions of influence or positioned themselves as influencers – should do so responsibly. 

No reasonable person who takes their life seriously can hop from one party to another left, right, and centre and still contain an ounce of legitimacy to claim to be fighting for the masses.