WINDHOEK: The Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) on Tuesday formally announced that the suspension of three of its leaders has been lifted.

Making the announcement at a media conference in the capital on Tuesday, RDP Secretary-General Jesaya Nyamu said the suspension of the three – Kandy Nehova, Peter Naholo and Mirjam Hamutenya – was resolved after careful consideration by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

‘Guided by the principle of party unity, coupled with constructive advice and appeal from some prominent Namibian spiritual leaders, the RDP leadership resolved to settle the matter of suspension out of court and to re-instate Kandy Nehova, Peter Naholo and Mirjam Hamutenya in their previous positions with immediate effect,’ he explained.

He appealed to RDP members and supporters to consider the matter of suspension as being ‘closed’ and to ‘march forward to build and strengthen the RDP as the only alternative party of hope and a better future for the country’.

The three were allegedly suspended over the botched demonstrations by the party held at the Supreme Court and Parliament Gardens here in July.

They were suspended by the party on accusations that they had instigated members of the Rally for Democracy and Progress Youth League (RDPYL) to remain at the Parliament Gardens after the leadership had issued instructions that they should leave the premises during the demonstrations.

The demonstrations were held in protest at the delay in the announcement of the opposition parties’ appeal application on the 2009 National Assembly election results.