The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Windhoek councillors are back at work.
The party had suspended Fillemon Hambuda, Ndeshihafela Larandja and Bernadus Araeb.
They served a weeklong suspension instituted by the party after apologising alongside mayor Job Amupanda for the city’s shack demolitions last month.
IPC national spokesperson Imms Nashinge said the councillors were expected to be part of the city’s council meeting last night.
Last week, the IPC disowned the city’s ruling coalition and castigated its councillors, saying they “erred in their judgement to have admitted responsibility” alongside the apology offered by Amupanda.
The party said none of its councillors verified the facts presented by the City Police before agreeing to be part of Amupanda’s apology.
“The restraint was lifted on 31 July and our councillors are back at work,” said Nashinge.
He added IPC never had issues with anybody and was the first party to draw the coalition documents and present it to other parties for signatory and amendments.
“We drafted a coalition agreement and circulated it to others to change what they are not comfortable with and sign, but nobody signed it. We only read things in the newspapers but the whole idea is that we were supposed to come together and caucus to reach a collective agreement,” he explained.
Nashinge further referred questions to the party‘s secretary general Christine Aochamub who explained the “progressive forces” are in consultation with each other to determine a way forward.
“A collective media statement will be made once the same is concluded and I do not have a lead time at the moment,” she said.
City mayor Amupanda’s mobile phone went unanswered. His special council meeting to resolve the city’s housing challenges was scheduled for yesterday.
Another IPC councillor, Desiree Davids was suspended at the end of June to allow for an investigation into allegations that an application by her to buy a piece of land in Windhoek was fast-tracked.
IPC has four seats, while the AR and the Landless People’s Movement have two each. The Popular Democratic Movement and Nudo have one seat each. –ljason@nepc.com.na