By Kuvee Kangueehi
Windhoek
Prime Minister, Nahas Angula, says the new party, Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), will not be a threat to the Swapo Party but could threaten peace and stability in the country.
Speaking to New Era on Monday, Angula said RDP, which was registered by former Swapo Party politburo member and cabinet minister, Jesaya Nyamu, is a “paper party” and does not have the potential to challenge Swapo Party in the near future.
He said he does not foresee a mass exodus of senior party members from Swapo.
“I think five to 10 parliamentarians might leave the Swapo Party to join the new party.”
Angula said the RDP is a protest party against an individual and does not have a different ideological perspective to that of the Swapo Party.
He noted that the biggest concern would be security in the country as the political culture in the four northern central regions will not allow for peaceful political activity.
The Premier said if RDP decides to become aggressive, it could face strong resistance in certain parts of the country, adding that some areas could become no-go areas for certain people and vice versa.
He said the RDP is a party of disgruntled politicians and could appeal to many people from opposition parties. He said the party could also tap the 20 percent of the population that does not vote for Swapo.
Angula added that the party would struggle to appeal to a mass base unless it comes out with a dynamic programme that captures the imagination of the youth. He added, however, that the Swapo Party is also capable of such a programme.
Angula said he would rather discuss his political home, Swapo Party, than think about the new party.
From the list of people registered with the office of the ECN, most of the new party members are soft targets from the Swapo Party.
Over 100 people from the 755 list are from Gobabis, Epukiro and Otjombinde constituencies. It is believed that these are Swapo Party members caught in the Ovambanderu infighting that has spilt over into the party. Most Ovambanderu are either Swapo members or supporters.
The Ovambanderu infighting revolves around Chief Munjuku Nguvauva and Senior Chief Erastus Kahuure.
It is alleged that Swapo Party President, Sam Nujoma, has sided with Kahuure, hence members of the other group may have decided to move out of the party in protest.
Speculation is that some senior party members from the area have been influencing young people in the region to join the new party, while they continue to milk the system as parliamentarians.
The Ohangwena Region also boasts a big number of people on the list. Those migrating are thought to be Swapo Party members that have an axe to grind with the leadership over a number of things. Internal regional differences appear to be at play in Ohangwena and the differences are based on clan lines, with some close to the Head of State, Hifikepunye Pohamba and others to Hamutenya.
The group on the list from Oranjemund is suspected to be influenced by some former union leaders who still have a following with mineworkers at the town. It is believed that a former union leader visited Oranjemund as a Swapo member and recruited members for the new party.