Stefanus Nashama
Panduleni Itula, the leader of Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) says a number of political leaders only show up in remote areas before elections, neglecting the pressing issues faced by communities.
Itula last week stated that the Party believes in actions and tackling issues faced by the Namibian Nation, and not making headlines in the media.
“The IPC has been engaging communities across the country to hear and understand the cries of the people,” he claimed and added that many political leaders only become visible to the people before and during elections time, and thereafter they are nowhere to be found.
This, he says will leave the nation will no hope and trust in such political leaders, for only appearing for campaigns while they have not overlooked the pressing issues faced by the people.
Itula called for the creation of a system whereby traditional leaders work closely with the central government to present social problems affecting communities since they are the nearest people to the people.
“We would be able to solve many social problems bedevilling our people at the moment, but traditional leaders would need a budget for that,” he explained.
Itula has recently concluded a regional grassroots tour across Namibia, visiting nine regions and engaging with over 300 villages.
According to the IPC, the purpose of Itula’s visits was to understand the living standards and challenges faced by ordinary Namibians in preparation for the upcoming 2024 presidential elections.
Itula described the experiences he encountered during his regional visits as depressing.
“I have witnessed economic disparities and unequal access to resources, particularly in rural areas,” he said.
He said IPC stands as a catalyst for change, calling on Namibians to hold hands in addressing the deep-rooted inequalities and disparities that persist in rural areas.
The IPC’s vision is to transform Namibia through organic, homegrown solutions that come from the bottom up, ensuring that no one is left behind and every citizen has an opportunity to thrive.
Itula also explained that the engagements with rural communities have further reinforced IPC’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development.
He emphasized the need for comprehensive policies that prioritize the needs of all Namibians, going beyond mere decentralization.
“It is time to change the trajectory and ensure that rural communities receive the support and resources they deserve,” he remarked.
He said the IPC has valued the insights shared by the 25 traditional leaders the Party met during the regional tour.
IPC urged ministries to urgently address the problems faced by those at the grassroots level.
Meanwhile, Political Analyst, Ndumba Kamwanyah yesterday agreed with Itula when he said that it is well-known nature and culture of Namibian politics, in which mainly political parties and politicians tend to make promises while seeking votes, but after elections, they do not want to be questioned, criticized, and corrected.
“I agree with him 100 percent, after getting votes, politicians do not even want to go and report back to the communities where they campaigned,” he said.
Kamwanyah stated that Itula is a politician who is not tested for that political culture like other politicians.
“I hope he will be a good politician at that as he is if voted into power, he said, this is a serious concern in our politics,” he added.
Another Political Analyst Sakaria Johanness also agreed with Itula’s sentiments.
“I fully agree with him. If you look at the political incidents, you would realize that during campaigns, politicians are everywhere, but after elections, they run away from the people,” he explained.
Johannes said it is a fact that it is evident in the Swapogovernment’s effort to provide jobs for young people in NamPol, Namibia Correctional Services and Namibian Defence Force. He added that the party’s actions are aimed at manipulating the youth for votes.
“I do not want to attack anybody, but politicians do not care about the people, they care about their votes. Not so long ago, the leader of the Popular Democratic Movement went to sleep in the rural areas, but after elections, he was not seen in those communities again,” he said.
Johannes backed Itula by stating that it is a culture in Namibian politics that political leaders ignore the masses after elections.
