The cars aren't ours – Itula
Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) president Dr Panduleni Itula says, contrary to reports that the party bought 101 cars ahead of the November elections, it in fact hired only 16 cars.
These vehicles were, according to him, hired from an entity that believes in the party’s prospects of winning the election and its ability to eventually pay for them with money from parliament.
Itula wouldn’t reveal who IPC hired the cars from, citing confidentiality of the agreement signed with his party. Since the public display of the vehicles in February, IPC has remained evasive in response to questions about the origins of its fleet.
This attitude prompted accusations about a lack of transparency in IPC, a party that aims to win the November election “by a landslide” and lead Namibia.
Speaking on The Agenda - airing this Sunday on Facebook and YouTube at 19:00 and at 21:30 on NTV (DStv channel 285) – Itula said the party had no obligation to rectify rumours that were concocted by the media and the party’s adversaries.
“We have no cars. We entered into an agreement with somebody and we have an obligation [towards that agreement],” he said.
‘Political repercussions’
Itula said it was a struggle to secure the cars, having knocked on many doors for such business, but they were often rejected because of perceived political repercussions that companies may face if their identity is revealed.
“I went around to all companies, tourism companies that have cars, to enter into a contractual agreement with us. It was up to them to come up with the terms of that contract and we will sign.”
He added that the one entity that agreed to hire cars to them did so because it believes IPC is the incoming ruling party.
“The contract that we have with this entity says ‘we will hire cars from you at X rate per month’. It also contains how and when we will pay.
“If a company knows that IPC has the potential of becoming the governing party, it can take a risk and say ‘pay me in September next year when you’re in parliament’. If they know you will have 45 to 48 seats in parliament, they can work out a deal for you. Swapo gets N$97 million from parliament for their seats,” he said.
Cooked up
Meanwhile, the IPC leader said cooked-up numbers have been thrown around as various people tried to get details of the car agreement.
“The 101 figure is cooked up and there’s nothing we can do about that. We’ve got 16 cars. It’s as simple as that. We merely rented 16 cars. This thing that we’re getting cars from the Germans, Chinese or British... that’s their own lie,” Itula said on the show.
“We never bought cars, and we never had cars donated to us. Swapo does this all the time, asking members to avail their vehicles for party campaigns.”
On the show, Itula also reflected on, among other things, the lunch he had in April with European ambassadors, who were consequently summoned by international relations minister Peya Mushelenga.
These vehicles were, according to him, hired from an entity that believes in the party’s prospects of winning the election and its ability to eventually pay for them with money from parliament.
Itula wouldn’t reveal who IPC hired the cars from, citing confidentiality of the agreement signed with his party. Since the public display of the vehicles in February, IPC has remained evasive in response to questions about the origins of its fleet.
This attitude prompted accusations about a lack of transparency in IPC, a party that aims to win the November election “by a landslide” and lead Namibia.
Speaking on The Agenda - airing this Sunday on Facebook and YouTube at 19:00 and at 21:30 on NTV (DStv channel 285) – Itula said the party had no obligation to rectify rumours that were concocted by the media and the party’s adversaries.
“We have no cars. We entered into an agreement with somebody and we have an obligation [towards that agreement],” he said.
‘Political repercussions’
Itula said it was a struggle to secure the cars, having knocked on many doors for such business, but they were often rejected because of perceived political repercussions that companies may face if their identity is revealed.
“I went around to all companies, tourism companies that have cars, to enter into a contractual agreement with us. It was up to them to come up with the terms of that contract and we will sign.”
He added that the one entity that agreed to hire cars to them did so because it believes IPC is the incoming ruling party.
“The contract that we have with this entity says ‘we will hire cars from you at X rate per month’. It also contains how and when we will pay.
“If a company knows that IPC has the potential of becoming the governing party, it can take a risk and say ‘pay me in September next year when you’re in parliament’. If they know you will have 45 to 48 seats in parliament, they can work out a deal for you. Swapo gets N$97 million from parliament for their seats,” he said.
Cooked up
Meanwhile, the IPC leader said cooked-up numbers have been thrown around as various people tried to get details of the car agreement.
“The 101 figure is cooked up and there’s nothing we can do about that. We’ve got 16 cars. It’s as simple as that. We merely rented 16 cars. This thing that we’re getting cars from the Germans, Chinese or British... that’s their own lie,” Itula said on the show.
“We never bought cars, and we never had cars donated to us. Swapo does this all the time, asking members to avail their vehicles for party campaigns.”
On the show, Itula also reflected on, among other things, the lunch he had in April with European ambassadors, who were consequently summoned by international relations minister Peya Mushelenga.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article