Dimbulukeni Nauyoma – fate or wrong turn?

Sometimes fate works with time, and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, at 33, has the advantage of time. Unless, of course, his fate is that of the Biblical Aaron, who, for some reason, was struck by God before entering the Promised Land.

By Wonder Guchu

Fate takes us anywhere, and none of us has control over it.

The events of recent days could be speaking to this assertion, seeing that one of Namibia’s most promising and very persuasive young people, Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, is not going to parliament.

His mate and close associates with whom he was in the trenches, Dr Job Amupanda, George Kambala, Immanuel Nashinge, and Elijah Ngurare, are all in parliament.

Even Sharonice Busch, with whom Nauyoma tussled for the Nanso secretary-general’s position, is in parliament.

While some quarters talk about several wrong turns, such as leaving the Affirmative Repositioning and hooking up with Ally Angula, Nauyoma’s situation is purely fate.

Unlike other youth politicians, Nauyoma does not or seldom uses vulgar words to make a point. He rarely shouts when debating, and neither does he belittle others.

Soft-spoken and always ready to listen, Nauyoma is, without doubt, one of Namibia’s most level-headed youth politicians, who, if fate had it right, could be sitting where others are sitting today.

The day late President Hage Geingob met the AR leadership at State House. In the background behind Job Amupanda is Dimbulukeni Nauyoma

The beginning

Nauyoma became a Nanso member in 2008 when he was just 16 years old. Later, Nauyoma became Khomas’ Nanso secretary general.

In 2014, Nauyoma met with Amupanda and Kambala to call for land distribution. The trio conducted a mock land grab in Windhoek’s upmarket suburb of Klein Kuppe. They called the ‘plot’ ERF 2014.

Thereafter, they formed the Affirmative Repositioning Movement, with Nauyoma holding a top position as Amupanda’s deputy.

When Nauyoma was the Khomas Nanso secretary general in 2015, he demanded that NSFAF cancel loans because most beneficiaries were from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.

He said: “Some of these students might be the only hope their families have, and they, more often than not, have extended families to support them. It will be difficult for them to support their families while repaying student loans.”

Ironically, the new justice minister, Fillemon Wise Immanuel, was the NSFAF spokesperson then.

Later, in 2015, Nauyoma became the Nanso secretary general at the organisation’s elective conference after Busch withdrew from the race despite support from the late NYC president Mandela Kapere.

In 2016, Nauyoma led students from various colleges and universities to demand a registration fee decrease and called on NSFAF to assist poor students by providing them with registration assurances.

The student locked the gates to Nust, with Nauyoma declaring they would keep them shut until their demands were met.

Nauyoma said: “If they are smart enough, they will talk to us, but if they want to test our patience, we will remain here until they hear our plea.

“We know where they chill, we know where they stay, and we also know the restaurants where they eat, where our brothers guard them, whilst our mothers clean their houses.”

Nauyoma was part of the delegation that met the late President Hage Geingob at the State House on July 22, 2015, over the issue of urban land.

The AR movement wanted the government to provide 200 000 erven nationwide. The meeting saw Geingob going around Windhoek to mark areas where land would be available.

Of course, the movement lost the case in July 2023 when the Supreme Court ruled that the 2015 agreement on mass urban land servicing was not legally binding and could not be enforced by law.

The movement’s fortunes shone when they mobilised the youth to join a protest on June 16, 2016, against the government’s plan to build a new parliament.

During the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly election campaign, Nauyoma stood by the robots in the informal settlements, distributing AR movement pamphlets and engaging motorists.

His role fits that of a commissar, and he can whip up emotions once he starts singing. The movement got two seats in the Windhoek council, and Nauyoma gave way for a female cadre.

However, he was involved in the discussions leading to the election of Prof. Dr Job Amupanda, now a member of parliament, as the first opposition mayor.

Making a statement: George Kambala, Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, Job Amupanda. The fourth youth far right has remained a mystery.

Fate or wrong turn?

One wonders whether what happened within the AR movement was fate or Nauyoma taking a wrong turn. What started as rumblings grew into loud complaints, especially over the Windhoek council occupancy.

Nauyoma himself never spoke about it. Typical of him, he never complained; if he did, it was never loud enough to be heard very far.

In 2022, Michael Amushelelo resigned from the AR movement and joined NEFF. Although Nauyoma had become close to Amushelelo, he never clarified his political position.

He said his proximity to NEFF was about learning and experiencing new ideas.

Nauyoma was also involved with the Property Group Save Namibia housing project at Brakwater that sought to service 150 plots and build affordable houses for middle-income earners.

Whatever happened to that project is unclear. Apart from that, there was and has never been any development.

Nauyoma was, however, very active in the demonstrations which Amushelelo organised. One was at China Town in Windhoek, which led to Amushelelo and Nauyoma’s arrest in 2022.

While in custody, Nauyoma wrote a letter complaining about the intra-movement fights, saying if it does not self-correct, it may turn out like other political formations.

For this demonstration, Nauyoma and Amushelelo spent 99 days in custody.

When he was released, the relationship with other AR movement members appeared cold, and Nauyoma slowly drifted away.

In March 2023, Nauyoma and Amushelelo were also arrested for organising a nationwide protest against unemployment.

Nauyoma spent about two weeks in custody and was released on bail for his part organising the protest.

They were eventually found not guilty.

The pair is suing the police and the prosecutor general for N$10 million.

Severing ties

In November 2023, the Property Group Save Namibia announced that it had severed ties with Nauyoma after he had taken up a political position that occupied his time on a full-time basis.

The full-time political position was with presidential hopeful Ally Angula, with whom Nauyoma had teamed up as a chief campaign manager in September 2023.

However, in March 2024, Nauyoma left Angula’s campaign ostensibly, according to Angula, to pursue an honours degree programme at Nust.

In November 2024, Nauyoma rejoined the Swapo Party, saying the spirits had guided him. His return to Swapo was after 10 years he, Amupanda, Kambala and Ngurare were expelled in November 2014.

His words: Yes, some things may not be right, but it doesn’t mean we must break down the house when it is already standing.

The future

Sometimes fate works with time, and Nauyoma, at 33, has the advantage of time. Unless, of course, his fate is that of Aaron, who, for some reason, was struck by God before entering the Promised Land.

Aaron had drawn God’s wrath by disobeying his command at the waters of Meribah when the Israelites, once again, complained about a lack of water to drink.

If that is not the case, the spirits must open his horizons and be where he ought to be.

Just like he told The Namibian: “I went home for spiritual guidance from my grandmother and the elders, we have concluded that this is the only thing I’ve not spoken about.”

*Wonder Guchu is Namibia Future Media Holdings Manager for News.