Itula reads riot act to parly candidates

Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) president Dr Panduleni Itula has warned the 112 candidates vying for a spot on the party’s parliamentary list to avoid vote-buying and making empty promises or risk facing consequences, including disqualification from the race to parliament.

In a lengthy address during the opening of the party’s inaugural elective conference for members of parliament in Windhoek yesterday, Itula reiterated the party’s commitment to the rule of law and urged party members to be law-abiding citizens.

“You should not buy votes; it’s repugnant [and] it cannot be allowed and will not be tolerated in IPC and may lead to disqualification,” Itula said, sending a stern warning to the candidates.

Eyeing top spot

Each region sent eight candidates to the conference in order to ensure regional representation, but Itula said candidates are not allowed to vote for each other, adding “we have ways to detect if you do that.”

The elective conference will elect 86 candidates for the list, while the remaining 10 will be presidential appointees. In order to eliminate potential vote-buying and undue lobbying, Itula said candidates will also double as delegates, meaning only the 112 candidates will vote amongst themselves.

Unlike other parties’ presidential candidates, Itula said he will not be on the party’s list for the National Assembly election, as his sights are firmly set on winning the presidential election.

“We expect all political leaders to respect the rule of law, whether it's sheer understanding of rules or a complete innate commitment for us to never violate our constitution. We shall not have a presidential candidate who also stands at the top of the parliamentary list – you choose one or the other,” he said.

IPC has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the dual-candidacy concept practised in the country’s political landscape.

He also explained at length that the party will exercise its discretion in compiling the final list of candidates to be submitted to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), while also assuring party members that he will not dictate the composition of the list.

Political debate

The medical doctor-cum-politician is of the view that Namibia has lacked serious political debate over the years about issues that matter, such as education and unemployment.

“The task is enormous, therefore, you must internalise those issues. We know our hospitals are dilapidated while they are building [prestige buildings] right opposite. Over a million of our people live in informal settlements, water issues in the regions and veterans who were promised money are living under squalor conditions,” he lamented.

He added: “These are the issues we expect you to debate because it's what matters to our people, not personalities. We must focus on merits. Those who will be chosen will take on the dreams and hopes of our people to ensure that they have a promising future.”

Confident projection

Itula, who revealed that IPC has an estimated 450 000 members on its database, said Namibians are ready to vote his party into power during the upcoming elections.

He therefore called on those who will make it onto the party’s list “to be passionate and principled men and women who will defend our constitutional democracy and serve this nation, which has been traumatised by corruption, unemployment and poverty.”

"We need men and women of character who will be able to champion our course," Itula said.

“These elections are in our hands because our people, especially the freedom fighters, have been betrayed for too long by Swapo. Our people are ready to hand power to IPC as per my observations while travelling across this beautiful country of ours,” he said.

The elections took place yesterday, with the results expected to be announced this morning. The two-day conference, which ends today, will be followed by the launch of the party’s manifesto on Saturday in Havana, one of Windhoek’s most impoverished areas.