SWAKOPMUND – Independent Patriots for Change leader Panduleni Itula at the weekend implored Namibians to make sure the country rises above its head by feeding the future, instead of the past.
Itula was addressing hundreds of IPC supporters who came out to celebrate the party’s second anniversary and to campaign for their candidate Louis Kativa, who will contest in the Swakopmund constituency by-election slated for Friday.
IPC is seeking to retain the position once again after it became vacant earlier this year.
Former IPC member Ciske Smith-Howard won the position during the 2020 local and regional council elections but was dismissed two years after being elected into office.
“We don’t have you there or here. The people must eat first or we will have a problem if the leaders eat first. That is why we have Fishrot,” Itula said.
He said Namibia has experienced devastation as well as failure of the education and health systems, while there are no job prospects.
“We already have a formidable problem in the country that can only be resolved if we stand together. Therefore, let us feed the future and not the past,” Itula added. According to him, Swakopmund residents must make a meaningful change by voting IPC back into the constituency it previously held.
“Many of them are questioning why Kativa wants to be the constituency councillor, but that does not matter to IPC. What matters is what the people want… they want her, and we want to make sure that we have the best candidate supported by her own people,” Itula said.
Itula also indicated the IPC will not go into a coalition with any political party, as this will destabilise the country.
“There are only two options where political parties can come together before the elections. Political parties can only merge together and form one party. Immediately after they form another party, that means that all the others who merge, their registration lapsed. They no longer exist, and those people in local authorities have to get out, as they can no longer represent the parties because they don’t exist anymore.
This includes their members in parliament. Parliament will no longer be properly constituted, and will call for new elections and dissolve parliament. However, IPC does not want to be part of it,” Itula said.
– edeklerk@nepc.com.na