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Affirmative Repositioning
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<h2 id="establishment-and-operations">Establishment and operations</h2> <h3>As a social movement</h3> <p class="note">See also: <a href="/facts/Land_reform_in_Namibia/nF7K7vfc">Land reform in Namibia</a></p> <p>On 9 November 2014, Amupanda, Kambala and Nauyoma cleared land which they named "Erf 2014" in Windhoek's affluent <a href="/facts/Kleine_Kuppe/GswLP3Cq">Kleine Kuppe</a> suburb, stating high rental prices in town and nepotism in the municipality as reasons for their actions.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> The action was widely seen as illegal <a href="/facts/Land_grabbing/od5zAq81">land grabbing</a>. Amupanda, who was <a href="/facts/SWAPO_Party_Youth_League/hefD71TD">SWAPO Party Youth League</a> (SPYL)'s Secretary for Information, Publicity and Mobilisation at that time and also served in the youth wing's executive committee, resigned his positions shortly before all three activists were expelled from <a href="/facts/SWAPO/alykXCEN">SWAPO</a> for their actions. This expulsion was ordered by the 'Top four' of <a href="/facts/SWAPO/alykXCEN">SWAPO</a> party: president <a href="/facts/Hifikepunye_Pohamba/HB4m7Bgy">Hifikepunye Pohamba</a>, vice-president <a href="/facts/Hage_Geingob/3ghRs6DC">Hage Geingob</a>, secretary-general <a href="/facts/Nangolo_Mbumba/vMFNlFQd">Nangolo Mbumba</a>, and his deputy <a href="/facts/Laura_McLeod-Katjirua/DLMjMuSe">Laura McLeod-Katjirua</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> The trio vacated the illegally occupied plot after a few days. </p><p>In the meantime, AR activists started mobilising young people to apply for land at the Windhoek municipality. They used social media and existing SWAPO Youth League party structures.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> On 21 November 2014 the City of Windhoek received 14,000 individual land applications.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> In a second round of mass action on 27 February 2015, Windhoek received a further 2,500 applications. Land applications were also handed in to the municipalities of <a href="/facts/Walvis_Bay/vXz5vM5f">Walvis Bay</a> (9,500 applications), <a href="/facts/Okahandja/kj2RfGzl">Okahandja</a> (4,000), <a href="/facts/Swakopmund/lvggIVWR">Swakopmund</a> (3,000),<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Ongwediva/DLabyCpo">Ongwediva</a> (2,500), <a href="/facts/Oshakati/0rLnBdqA">Oshakati</a> (2,500), <a href="/facts/Keetmanshoop/JFje5shL">Keetmanshoop</a> (800), <a href="/facts/Rundu/ytADS4dU">Rundu</a> (400), <a href="/facts/Otjiwarongo/Q35Xx2HH">Otjiwarongo</a> (200) and <a href="/facts/Tsumeb/9ohwoU4B">Tsumeb</a> (200).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p><p>In April 2015 the municipality of <a href="/facts/Henties_Bay/zE15KDl7">Henties Bay</a> offered 120 serviced land plots to applicants of the AR movement, among them Amupanda, Nauyoma, and Kambala. This move has been widely criticised, and the AR leaders were accused of misusing their movement's goals by applying for plots in the upmarket holiday town of Henties Bay while being residents of Windhoek.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> As of May 2015<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Affirmative_Repositioning&action=edit">[update]</a> the plots have not been transferred.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p><p>In May 2016 all three AR leaders were reinstated as SWAPO members after they won their respective court case against the party.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p> <h3>As political party</h3> <p>After political commentators had for some time speculated that the Affirmative Repositioning movement would transform into a political party,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> the movement was registered for the <a href="/facts/2020_Namibian_local_and_regional_elections/fglkWs5e">2020 local elections</a> as an association in the urban centres of Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="reception">Reception</h2> <p>In 2015, AR was described as the "biggest peaceful mass action since Namibia’s independence in 1990."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> The level of organisation within the movement as well as the variety of political promises by its main activist, Amupanda, raised the concern that AR might be a "political party in the making".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> SWAPO has generally condemned the initial land grab, but regarding the subsequent mobilisation action the party has not taken a uniform position. Former SPYL secretary-general <a href="/facts/Elijah_Ngurare/mYPxtRyn">Elijah Ngurare</a> has backed the movement but several regional SWAPO politicians do not approve of it.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="electoral-history">Electoral history</h2> <h3>Presidential elections</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Election</th><th>Party candidate</th><th>Votes</th><th>%</th><th>Result</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2024_Namibian_general_election/Bfee8PcD">2024</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Job_Amupanda/WxRYqm4G">Job Amupanda</a></td><td>19,676</td><td>1.79%</td><td>Lost N</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>National Assembly elections</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Election</th><th>Party Leader</th><th>Votes</th><th>%</th><th>Seats</th><th>+/-</th><th>Position</th><th>Result</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/2024_Namibian_general_election/Bfee8PcD">2024</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Job_Amupanda/WxRYqm4G">Job Amupanda</a></td><td>72,227</td><td>6.61%</td><td>6 / 96</td><td>New</td><td> 3rd</td><td>Opposition</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Ndalikokule, Paulina (2019-04-24). "AR to launch 'People's Litigation Centre'". The Namibian. Retrieved 2021-07-05. <a href="https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?page=archive-read&id=187874" target="_blank">https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?page=archive-read&id=187874</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>https://allafrica.com/stories/201901220516.html | Namibia: AR to Challenge Squatters Law After Activist's Bail - allAfrica.com <a href="https://allafrica.com/stories/201901220516.html" target="_blank">https://allafrica.com/stories/201901220516.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Louw, Madeline (2024-07-04). "ECN officially confirms registration of AR and ADM as political parties". 99FM - Your Inspiration Station. Retrieved 2024-12-04. <a href="https://99fm.com.na/ecn-officially-confirms-registration-of-ar-and-adm-as-political-parties/" target="_blank">https://99fm.com.na/ecn-officially-confirms-registration-of-ar-and-adm-as-political-parties/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>info_e12wt4cs (2024-12-04). "NNN shatters glass ceiling – Windhoek Observer". Retrieved 2024-12-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) <a href="https://www.observer24.com.na/nnn-first-female-president-of-namibia/" target="_blank">https://www.observer24.com.na/nnn-first-female-president-of-namibia/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Kambala, George; Nauyoma, Dimbulukeni; Amupanda, Job Shipululo (13 February 2015). "Affirmative Repositioning – The Two Options". New Era. <a href="/wiki/Job_Amupanda" target="_blank">/wiki/Job_Amupanda</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Mongudhi, Tileni; Haidula, Tuyeimo (4 March 2015). "Politburo endorses Amupanda's suspension". The Namibian. Archived from the original on April 28, 2015. <a href="https://archive.today/20150428112106/http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?archive_id=134263" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20150428112106/http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?archive_id=134263</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Ndimbira, Diana (27 February 2015). "Amupanda causes panic". Windhoek Observer. <a href="http://observer24.com.na/8-latest-news/4105-amupanda-causes-panic" target="_blank">http://observer24.com.na/8-latest-news/4105-amupanda-causes-panic</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Tjihenua, Theresia; Haidula, Tuyeimo (24 November 2014). "14 000 submit land applications". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015. <a href="https://archive.today/20150428112106/http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?archive_id=130889" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20150428112106/http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?archive_id=130889</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Mass land application peaceful". The Citizen. 28 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152115/http://citizen.co.za/335308/mass-land-application-peaceful/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152115/http://citizen.co.za/335308/mass-land-application-peaceful/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Mass land applications hailed a success". New Era. 2 March 2015. <a href="https://www.newera.com.na/2015/03/02/mass-land-applications-hailed-success/" target="_blank">https://www.newera.com.na/2015/03/02/mass-land-applications-hailed-success/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Heita, Hileni (24 April 2015). "AR Trio Receive Henties Plots". Windhoek Observer. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150518102248/http://observer24.com.na/national/4382-ar-trio-receive-henties-plots" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150518102248/http://observer24.com.na/national/4382-ar-trio-receive-henties-plots</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Beukes, Jemima (7 May 2015). "Amupanda disappointed by Gurirab's remarks". Namibian Sun. Archived from the original on 2015-05-15. Retrieved 2015-05-07. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150515002419/http://www.namibiansun.com/amupanda-disappointed-by-gurirabs-remarks.78971" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150515002419/http://www.namibiansun.com/amupanda-disappointed-by-gurirabs-remarks.78971</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Haidula, Tuyeimo (7 May 2015). "'Follow Swapo land policy'". The Namibian.[permanent dead link] <a href="http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=26397" target="_blank">http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=26397</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Muraranganda, Elvis (16 May 2016). "Swapo welcomes back expelled quartet". New Era. <a href="https://www.newera.com.na/2016/05/12/swapo-welcomes-expelled-quartet/" target="_blank">https://www.newera.com.na/2016/05/12/swapo-welcomes-expelled-quartet/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Whittaker, Shaun; Boesak, Harry; van Wyk, Mitchell (20 December 2019). "Namibia Post-Swapo". The Namibian. <a href="https://www.namibian.com.na/196536/archive-read/Namibia-Post-Swapo" target="_blank">https://www.namibian.com.na/196536/archive-read/Namibia-Post-Swapo</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Iikela, Sakeus (19 September 2019). "AR promises 76 000 houses for Windhoek". The Namibian. p. 3. <a href="https://www.namibian.com.na/193215/archive-read/AR-promises-76-000-houses-for-Windhoek" target="_blank">https://www.namibian.com.na/193215/archive-read/AR-promises-76-000-houses-for-Windhoek</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Iikela, Sakeus (23 September 2020). "ECN registers 22 associations". The Namibian. <a href="https://www.namibian.com.na/94975/read/ECN-registers-22-associations" target="_blank">https://www.namibian.com.na/94975/read/ECN-registers-22-associations</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"Mass land application peaceful". The Citizen. 28 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152115/http://citizen.co.za/335308/mass-land-application-peaceful/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152115/http://citizen.co.za/335308/mass-land-application-peaceful/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Ndimbira, Diana (27 February 2015). "Amupanda causes panic". Windhoek Observer. <a href="http://observer24.com.na/8-latest-news/4105-amupanda-causes-panic" target="_blank">http://observer24.com.na/8-latest-news/4105-amupanda-causes-panic</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>"Swapo divided on land applications". New Era. 27 February 2015. <a href="https://www.newera.com.na/2015/02/27/swapo-divided-land-applications/" target="_blank">https://www.newera.com.na/2015/02/27/swapo-divided-land-applications/</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>