WALVIS BAY – Political analysts are of the opinion that the disunity among the Independent Patriots for Change councillors serving on the Erongo Regional Council could be detrimental to the organisation, as supporters might lose faith in the party because a power struggle has burst out in the open.
This follows after IPC councillor Ciske Smith-Howard resigned as the chairperson of the Erongo regional council.
Smith-Howard resigned after her fellow party member and councillor Florian Donatus and Swapo councillor Ernst Wetha tabled a motion of no confidence against her.
As a result, Smith-Howard stepped down before council voted for her removal.
“It seems that IPC has lost power in the process due to infighting. It has weakened their position in council.
The power is actually in the hands of the UDF councillor, and one would have to see how the UDF align themselves politically,” says independent political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah.
He also said infighting weakens the stronghold of IPC, simultaneously giving the upper hand to Swapo.
“However, make no mistake; the UDF has the decision-making vote,’’ he said.
Kamwanyah added it would be interesting to see how IPC unifies its team, further saying IPC has a huge task in restoring the faith of party members and supporters, as infighting can affect the party going forward.
Political commentator and University of Namibia lecturer of Rhetorical Studies and English Gerson Sindano also said the political drama unfolding among the IPC members in Erongo is a replica of the previous political shenanigans that happened at Windhoek City Council recently.
Several members of the IPC on the Windhoek council resigned or were removed after they were “restrained” since the IPC-led coalition took over the council after the last regional and local authority elections.
Sindano says the division within the IPC could be attributed to a lack of political strategy.
“The UDF’s political manoeuvre in the vote of no confidence against the former chairperson, whom they have traditionally supported following their political marriage with IPC, is fascinating; this is despite UDF being rewarded with a nomination to go to the national council,’’ he said.
According to Sindano, what we see at the Erongo regional council is a clear demonstration that the whole IPC party has a fundamental problem with keeping unity within itself.
He added that the division between the coalition parties will most likely lead to a leadership impasse – and in the end, it is the people of Erongo who are going to be affected.
“Nonetheless, in the political theatre, the division will certainly be explored by the Swapo Party. It will position itself as the most capable and experienced political party to run the affairs of the council. If the political division continues on the council, IPC will most likely be punished by the voters in the next election cycle,” Sindano said.
Meanwhile, Smith-Howard said she chose to resign instead of being labelled as the cause of council’s woes.
“As I said from the beginning, I will not go against the council. We are in a democratic country, and we adhere to majority rule. I believed that it was in the best interest of council and the residents of Erongo.
She, however, indicated that she would deal with the allegations made by fellow councillors, as they were already in the public domain before the meeting was held.
Smith-Howard is facing a N$350 000 lawsuit from Henties Bay local authority councillor Sifried Junios //Garoëb.
She allegedly made several slanderous remarks about him when she was interviewed on ‘Evening Review’, hosted by Namibian Sun newspaper.
– edeklerk@nepc.com.na