Mixed reactions to IPC’s power-sharing proposal

The proposal to equally share seats on the City of Windhoek management committee (MC) has become a divisive issue among the parties represented on council.Some are saying it is an "opportunistic move" while others are calling for egos to be set aside for the sake of service-delivery-starved residents.Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) general secretary Christine Aochamus last week, in a letter, called for all parties to select a delegate to serve on the council’s management committee, further proposing that the management council chairperson position become rotational."This would allow all parties to have a voice in the decision-making process, and that would respect the choices of the voters. Should this proposal be approved by all, we would elect the chairperson of MC through a lot and agree on a rotational period collectively," Aochamus said.There are six parties represented on the council, while the MC makes provision for councillors to serve on the structure.Swapo Party currently occupies three of the seats, while the remaining two remain vacant due to political differences between the parties.Ready to talkThe National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) and Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) say they are open to the proposal brought forward by the IPC that calls for each party to obtain an MC position.PDM secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe welcomed the move and called on party members to set egos aside."We want a governance of a coalition. I want to ask the &#039;progressive forces&#039; that we should not be selective because of our own agendas. All of us must sit together and put our egos aside, and negotiate as a collective," Ngaringombe said.Good intentionsNudo representative and current mayor Joseph Uapingene welcomed the proposed move."Nudo was the first to call for parties to talk. The intention is good," he said."We will participate when a meeting is called to order; we are willing to participate," Uapingene added.Equal powerLandless Peoples Movement (LPM) councillor Ivan Skrywer, during a press briefing held on Friday, labelled the IPC proposal as "opportunistic”."You have an opportunistic letter that is being circulated around. We are not in support of an MC where one party has the absolute majority and rules," Skrywer said.Former mayor and LPM member Sade Gawanas added: "We have said it again and again: we will not give anyone absolute power. Why must we respond to a letter by IPC and for them to look like the bigger brother? Council does not need IPC’s saving. What we wanted was for them to come to the table and not be vindictive and arrogant."Nothing official yetSwapo chief whip in council, Queen Kamati, said the party had only seen the matter being reported on in the media, adding that Swapo had not officially been approached by the IPC."We have seen it reported in the media, but we have not received anything from the IPC, so we have not discussed it as a party," Kamati said.

Mixed reactions to IPC’s power-sharing proposal

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Mixed reactions to IPC’s power-sharing proposal

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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