EDITORIAL: Political accountability a rarity

Despite its somewhat chaotic arrival on the scene, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has set the bar relatively high in terms of holding its own officials accountable. This after the party suspended its member, Kefas Vernandu, for allegedly inciting violence in the country.

Motormouth Vernandu, in viral audio recordings, flirted with the idea of overthrowing our legitimate government through armed means, among other unwashed pronouncements.

Paradoxically, his remarks are inches within those of former chief of the Namibian Defence Force, Martin Shalli, who in 2020 remarked at a Swapo rally that those defecting from the party must be killed. Swapo looked the other way when the nation went into overdrive over the remarks.

Only one brave soul, Swapo member of parliament Mandela Kapere, dared to publicly condemn the remarks at the time. He would succumb to Covid-19 not long after that, leaving a deep void in the party when it comes to principled leadership, and speaking out when necessary.

IPC was brave to suspend Vernandu at a time when parties are prepared to compromise everything in the name of superficial pre-election unity to safeguard votes. However, the move may be viewed by some as performative, especially after the party flatly refused to divulge the source of its new fleet of bakkies. First, they hid behind president Hage Geingob’s death by stating they will not comment on the matter while the nation was in mourning. More than a month after the burial, the party continues to beat about the bush on the issue.