As Namibia heads to a pivotal election in November, the Independent Patriots for Change unveiled an ambitious manifesto filled with bold promises on Saturday.
From slashing youth unemployment to reducing slums by half, the party’s goals are to address the country’s deep-rooted challenges.
The IPC’s manifesto launch began with a lively parade in Ausspanplatz, where supporters gathered in a convoy that snaked through Independence Avenue, heading towards Windhoek’s Havana informal settlement. Microphone in hand, IPC leader Panduleni Itula was a ball of energy running towards passersby, shaking hands and trying to win their hearts and votes. This marks Itula’s second run for the presidency. In 2019, he contested as an independent presidential candidate and finished second, with just over 29% of the total vote.
Youth unemployment
The stark reality of youth unemployment and the scarcity of jobs in Namibia provide a challenge for all parties and candidates vying for votes in the National and Presidential Elections, scheduled for 27 November.
As of 2023, the youth unemployment rate soared to a staggering 46.1%, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency.
Itula has vowed to break this cycle, promising to halve youth unemployment within five years and create sustainable jobs for graduates.
“The young people of this country are the country’s future, and they are the engine of our economy; they need employment as in yesterday. Many of our initiatives focus on the youth, and they are the key beneficiaries of what we are promising,” said Itula.
He also promised that 80% of the graduates will be employed within one year of leaving university. “We will double youth entrepreneurship within five years to make sure the youth can create jobs for others,”
said Itula, adding that he will ensure 90%
of the youth are either in education or
employed or trained by 2028.
Jobs
Itula envisions radically reforming the business climate to ensure “Namibia moves from being ranked in the bottom half of the world to the top 25% of nations by 2030”. He proposed achieving this through a red tape-cutting committee with a continuous mandate to streamline regulations while also enhancing the efficiency of necessary rules. The IPC leader promised substantial pro-employment tax reforms targeting small and new businesses, including a corporate income tax rate with a 22% ceiling, exemptions for profits below N$2 million, a dividend tax to encourage reinvestment, and an increased VAT threshold to N$2 million in turnover.
Red tape
In an interview with New Era, economist Gabriel Erastus weighed in on the proposed tax reforms, highlighting the persistent challenges facing Namibian businesses. “The issue we have in Namibia is the red tape, the bureaucracy, and laws and policies that are not business-friendly,” Erastus explained. He added: “If you go to Bipa today, they’re probably registering more than 100 businesses every day, but the problem is that none of these business ideas advance significantly. We have the highest MSME mortality rate; businesses often start and fail quickly. Local businesses rarely transition to corporations, as most are either foreign-owned or dominated, indicating a toxic environment for business.” Erastus acknowledged the potential benefits of the proposed reforms but cautioned about the gap between promises and practical implementation.
“Our problems are structural, requiring substantial policy and legal changes. If these reforms are effectively implemented, they could be beneficial. However, achieving national consensus at the assembly for such changes is the challenging part,” Erastus said.
Public resources
In the manifesto, IPC also outlines a vision to better utilise the country’s natural and national resources. “Namibia is a resource-rich country, yet our assets are not used efficiently to benefit everyone,” Itula said.
The party aims to improve resource management by cutting wasteful expenditure, reducing the number of ministries, and optimising asset use through a comprehensive review. Specific measures include streamlining public procurement, developing a transparent resource management plan, and ensuring that revenues from public assets support infrastructure development and job creation.
Health, housing and education
Addressing basic service gaps, Itula said: “Our country is not poor, but misallocation of resources and corruption have hindered progress.”
He commits to improving access to healthcare, housing, education, and grants.
Their plan includes providing every Namibian child with modern housing, increasing formal housing by 100 000 units over 10 years, and reducing informal settlements by 50%.
New Era last week reported that 67% of Namibia’s population in urban areas lives in slums, and only 1.7% can afford a house worth N$1 million, the average house price in the country. In 2015, at the start of his first term, the late President Hage Geingob promised to eliminate shacks within five years.
Itula also proposes a cash-income grant for vulnerable populations, expanding healthcare facilities, and enhancing transparency in medical services. He also pledged to invest N$5 billion of public funds, coupled with additional partner funds, over five years in modernising school infrastructure nationwide, with a focus on rural schools with no infrastructure and ensure 100% of schools have access to electricity, internet, and basic sanitation.
Corruption
Itula also promised to combat corruption through several key measures, including establishing a corruption oversight commission, reforming the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for independence, and implementing a blockchain-based digital procurement system for transparency.
Additional initiatives include a government performance dashboard, online publication of mining and oil contracts, enhanced accountability in the fishing industry, and other resource concessions.
Political views
Political analyst Rui Tyitende raised concerns about the IPC’s proposal to shift urban land delivery from local authorities to a competitive bidding system managed by the central government. He noted: “Removing this mandate from local authorities will result in a substantial loss of revenue, as land sales are a major source of income for them. My concern is how this revenue gap will be addressed and whether it undermines decentralisation and local empowerment.” Tyitende also questioned the clarity of the IPC’s plan to halve unemployment in five years, specifics of tax reforms, and attracting foreign direct investment, which he felt were not clearly addressed.