Stefanus Nashama
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has dismissed allegations contained in a letter circulating on social media purporting that the party is a British-funded entity.
The party’s spokesperson, Immanuel Nashinge, on Thursday in a statement, said the letter dated 25 May was fake and meant to fabricate all sorts of deceptions and innuendos.
“The IPC strongly condemns what has now become a norm for political opponents to fabricate lies, forge documents and distribute fake news to tarnish the integrity of the IPC. We challenge our political opponents to engage in mature political campaigns, comply with the code of conduct of political parties and to raise the bar rather than to engage in name-calling and now forging letters,” Nashinge stated.
The letter purported to have come from British MP, Sarah Champion, of the Labour Party, to Foreign Secretary David Cameron, requesting support for IPC to assemble into power and keep the interest of Europeans, including the LGBTQ+ community.
It also claimed IPC vice-president Trevino Forbes and national chairperson Brian Black met with British envoys to seek financial support for the party ahead of the November election.
“As you are aware, we have committed significant financial resources to bolster IPC’s efforts in the upcoming elections. Specifically, a sum of £750,000 has been transferred to the party’s bank account at First National Bank of Namibia. This funding is crucial to ensure that IPC can mount a robust campaign against the incumbent regime,” reads the letter.
It further alleges that the UK government has agreed to offer political assistance in the IPC campaign to support human rights groups in Namibia.
“This aligns with our broader commitment to promoting human rights globally and represents a significant step forward in a region where rights such as those afforded to LGBTQI communities are often under threat from extremist elements in the ruling Swapo Party and the leftist parties such as NEEF,” states the letter.
Nashinge said the IPC has learned of a multitude of agents hired by opponents to mislead the nation.
“Our opponents will stop at nothing to seek to ridicule, lie and fabricate all sorts of deceptions and innuendos,” he stated.
Nashinge stressed that the party’s opponents have insistently continued to fabricate complete untruths about Panduleni Itula and the party.
“These fear-mongering attempts by the enemy of the Namibian people are designed to mislead and frighten us all of some calamity befalling our people pre-empting the inevitable victory of the IPC and its legitimate Presidential candidate, Dr Panduleni Filemon Bango Itula,” he said.
He accused Swapo and opponents of stopping at nothing to prevent the people of Namibia from exercising their democratic rights in electing their legitimate leaders.
Nashinge said the accusations are imposed by the fear of losing their power to mislead and continue to loot the nation of its resources. “Our resolve to rid our nation from thieves and corrupt leaders will continue unabated, being led by our President as he continues to inform and educate the nation of a better future,” he stated.
Nashinge said IPC remains committed to its principle of rule of law.
He further urged people to exercise extreme caution when encountering communications on social media.