Ex-NYC leader dumps Swapo for LPM over 'Nama oppression'
Former National Youth Council (NYC) vice-chairperson JP Van der Westhuizen has left Swapo to join the Landless People's Movement (LPM), citing "systematic oppression" of the Nama people within the ruling party.
Van der Westhuizen, who has been politically active since childhood due to his parents' political involvement, revealed that he was never a formal member of Swapo.
"I was never a card-carrying member of Swapo. I also did not want to be," he told Namibian Sun yesterday.
He claimed to have long witnessed discrimination against the Nama community within the party.
"There seems to be a systematic oppression of the people that I identify with – the Nama people – and therefore, I have decided to rather move to a party where I see an ideology focused on the advancement of social justice," he said.
LPM, which dominates in the predominantly Nama-speaking regions of Hardap and //Kharas, has consistently denied suggestions that it is a tribal party.
Ready for action
An advocate for land reform, Van der Westhuizen said his decision to join LPM is rooted in a desire to address broader social issues.
"I want to focus on social justice and land reform, but also on advancing capacity for our people. Beyond the Nama people, rural communities remain my core passion," he explained.
Frustration with slow government action also influenced his move, Van der Westhuizen said.
"I identified with LPM when I asked myself what I wanted to contribute to society. I am tired of advising on certain matters but seeing no action being taken."
He criticised the sluggish pace of implementing resolutions from the second national land conference, describing the delays as unacceptable.
"The pace at which solutions from the second land conference are being implemented is slow, and there is no information or feedback about the hold-up. I can't sit in the face of injustice anymore and pretend not to see it," he added.
Foot soldier
Reflecting on his departure from Swapo, Van der Westhuizen said: "I have enough sins already. I don't want to turn a blind eye and have that weigh on my conscience as well. Therefore, I joined LPM to give myself the space to serve the people the best way I know how."
He reiterated that his past involvement with Swapo was purely informal.
"I never carried a Swapo card, and I never wanted to because I did not wish to be identified as a card-carrying member. I was a civil society worker, I never wanted to be part of the party structures. I played my part as a foot soldier, and I have done that since I was a boy."
Van der Westhuizen, who has been politically active since childhood due to his parents' political involvement, revealed that he was never a formal member of Swapo.
"I was never a card-carrying member of Swapo. I also did not want to be," he told Namibian Sun yesterday.
He claimed to have long witnessed discrimination against the Nama community within the party.
"There seems to be a systematic oppression of the people that I identify with – the Nama people – and therefore, I have decided to rather move to a party where I see an ideology focused on the advancement of social justice," he said.
LPM, which dominates in the predominantly Nama-speaking regions of Hardap and //Kharas, has consistently denied suggestions that it is a tribal party.
Ready for action
An advocate for land reform, Van der Westhuizen said his decision to join LPM is rooted in a desire to address broader social issues.
"I want to focus on social justice and land reform, but also on advancing capacity for our people. Beyond the Nama people, rural communities remain my core passion," he explained.
Frustration with slow government action also influenced his move, Van der Westhuizen said.
"I identified with LPM when I asked myself what I wanted to contribute to society. I am tired of advising on certain matters but seeing no action being taken."
He criticised the sluggish pace of implementing resolutions from the second national land conference, describing the delays as unacceptable.
"The pace at which solutions from the second land conference are being implemented is slow, and there is no information or feedback about the hold-up. I can't sit in the face of injustice anymore and pretend not to see it," he added.
Foot soldier
Reflecting on his departure from Swapo, Van der Westhuizen said: "I have enough sins already. I don't want to turn a blind eye and have that weigh on my conscience as well. Therefore, I joined LPM to give myself the space to serve the people the best way I know how."
He reiterated that his past involvement with Swapo was purely informal.
"I never carried a Swapo card, and I never wanted to because I did not wish to be identified as a card-carrying member. I was a civil society worker, I never wanted to be part of the party structures. I played my part as a foot soldier, and I have done that since I was a boy."
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article