‘Professor’ Polykarp Ameya is the founder and president of Namibia People Organisation (Nampo), a newly established political party based in Omusati Region. Ameya, who still holds a party membership card of Swapo, also owns an educational institution, which according to him is Nampo high school. He calls Nampo as “a revolutionary offspring of Swapo” and he tells journalist Loide Jason why…
NE: Briefly tell us about yourself –your political and educational background?
PA: “Ameya is a born resident of Anamulenge Constituency, Omusati Region, a well-known voluntary development educationalist in the area. He is a conscious leadership cadre who possesses qualifications of high studies awarded by the University of Namibia, Polytechnic of Namibia, University of Havana, Cuba and other academic institutions abroad. Ameya is a professional member of Omusati Regional Development Coordination Committee (RDCC) and he is a registered veteran of Namibia’s national political independence, a former staff-member of People’s Liberation Army of Namibia ( PLAN ), the then military wing of SWAPO.
“Ameya is a tested professional cadre with 35 years of practical experience on education and training, leadership and managerial skills as well as in international relations.”
NE: What is your profession, what is your specialisation?
PA: “I am a social scientist. In 1993, I obtained the title of social scientist from the University of Havana in Cuba.”
NE: Why are you referred to as a ‘professor’?
PA: “The people refer to me as Professor because of the role that I play in society. They refer to me as such because of the difference I am making.”
NE: What informed your bold decision to quit Swapo and start Nampo?
PA: The condition on the ground demands for economic independence, not only for Namibia but for all third world countries, Namibia included. We need to repatriate our country economically.
NE: Tell us more about Nampo – its principals, why it was established, and when it was established?
PA: Nampo was formed on December 23 last year. The party is not yet formally launched, you have just picked up the information too early [New Era was the first newspaper to report on the party’s formation]. We will still call you for the launch when you will get more information. You need to understand that the national independence consists of two-phases, the political independence and the economic independence. Victorious Swapo Party liberated Namibia politically, but Namibia is still economically dependent, the reason for the establishment of Nampo Party is thus to liberate Namibia economically.
NE: So when is the official launch?
PA: We are still going to discuss it. We are not going to be pushed by Swapo or by you, journalists. The launch will take place on our own terms.
NE: Apart from yourself, who are other senior members in the leadership of Nampo?
PA: The beginning of anything only starts with one or two names. I am only going to give you two names, one Ameya and David Shayelamo who is the Secretary for Information and Publicity.
NE: What is the relationship between Swapo and Nampo? Is Nampo an affiliate of Swapo or why do you say Nampo is pro-Swapo?
PA: Swapo is my own political parent. You must understand that the constitution of Swapo is a very good constitution which is aiming at civilising Namibians. Swapo was formed on the basis of socio – justice but it does not have a vision, it has no mission or political ideology. All political parties in Southern Africa that were formed on the ideology of socialism, including Swapo, are in political ideology decay.
But I should respect Swapo. They liberated me politically, so now it is up to me to raise myself and liberate myself economically. You cannot insult Swapo even though misunderstandings will always be there. People can refer to us as confused but Swapo is my parent. The Father of the Nation, Sam Nujoma said we should respect our forefathers, I should also respect Sam Nujoma, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Ben Ulenga and Hidipo.
NE: We understands that you did not resign as the district coordinator of Swapo. When are you planning to resign? Or do you still consider yourself as a member of Swapo?
PA: To answer your first question, I have never been a Swapo coordinator. Since the independence of this country I have been an ordinary member of Swapo and I am still an ordinary member. I joined Swapo voluntarily and I will resign voluntarily, nobody told me to join Swapo, and nobody will tell me or force me to resign. So, I am feeling proud of being a visionary cadre who is politically civilised by Swapo Party, and I did not commit any crime against Swapo Party. I respect Swapo Party as my political parent. Thus my resignation from Swapo Party, if necessary, shall be done in a respectful peaceful manner, just like a good child who leaves his parents’ house to establish his own house with honour. Not like a criminal being chased away.
NE: You are being accused of using Swapo name to recruit members. Is this true and in what sense is Nampo a pro-Swapo party?
PA: “From Swapo Party to Nampo party, this is quite clear. Swapo was established before independence, that is why it is known as South West Africa People Organisation, and Nampo stands for Namibia People’s Organisation which means it came from Swapo and it was established after independence. Nampo is a peaceful organisation and anything that comes with violence or hatred, we will crush it.”
NE: Are all students at your institution members of Nampo?
PA: “My Nampo Party High School is a well known good leadership school in Namibia. The trade name of this school is CDL-College. We have a lot of CDL-College graduates serving as leaders, managers in both public and private sectors as well as successful self-employed. Some of Nampo Party High School ( CDL-College) graduates are currently serving as Swapo Party officials at different levels. The vivid example in this case is Mr. Junias Shatipamba who is a Swapo Party Coordinator for Anamulenge District. This testifies the friendly attitude of Nampo Party towards other societal forces, Swapo Party included.
“Initially, we wanted it to be a Swapo Party college but we failed, now that we have established Nampo Party, we can do as we like. Nampo Party High School is open to every Namibian, and more importantly, to members of all peace-loving organisations, political parties and developmental NGOs included.”
NE: Is Nampo a national or regional party?
PA: “Your question is just wrong even before you asked it, it is totally wrong! Nampo is not a regional party it is a national party and the name says it all”.
NE: Do you have more information that you may share with us?
PA: “Swapo members are used to stoning other political parties cars whenever they are passing in certain areas, but no matter what Swapo do, we will remain peaceful and our members are expected to do the same. We should learn how to establish political parties that are friendly to one another for the sake of peace and stability. Political parties are sister parties. Don’t expect me or any member of Nampo to bad-mouth Swapo. Our enemy is not Swapo, our enemy is not CoD, RDP or DTA. Our enemy is hunger, poverty and economic dependency. Our enemy is our weakness to produce our own clothes and the equipments we are using.
The phones that we are using, your camera, maybe you (journalist) are driving a beautiful car – maybe a [Toyota] VVTI, but it is not yours, it somebody’s product. We want Namibians to stop complaining about fake products, where are your own fake products? You have nothing!”