Stefanus Nashama
The leader of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), Pandulani Itula, has refuted allegations that the party has bought cars to run its political campaigns.
According to Itula, who spoke during a radio interview, the party entered into an agreement with someone to rent cars for its campaign; however, he did not reveal details about the person.
“It is not true. IPC has never bought or given any single car. I do not know where those who made such allegations find such a story. We found someone with cars and said that the cars should not be given to someone and we agreed to use them. Those cars are not within the party’s economy. They are rented,” he clarified.
According to the allegations, the party bought 101 single GWM P-Series double cabs for more than N$40 million.
Since then, the party has been parading the white GWM bakkies during its campaigns across the country, leaving people with questions about where the funds to produce the vehicles came from.
The rumours surrounding the allegations escalated, with some political commentators calling for the IPC, which advocates for government transparency, to be transparent on this purchase and tell where the party got the money.
Initially, Itula refused to reveal the funder, stating that his party would never disclose the names of those who support it in any form under the guise of transparency.
Itula also refuted claims that IPC would take away the pensioner’s social grant if elected into power.
Itula emphasised that the IPC stands apart from other political parties, and under its leadership, the Namibian government will become independent and less dependent on other governments.
“You cannot be relying on our neighbour because you do not know when the house of neighbour will burn. We must be independent and stand on our own. I am not like them, I have never worked in the independent government of Namibia,” he stressed.
He urged people to wait until he was elected into power before blaming him if he failed to deliver.
“The presidential chair is not for the president; it is for the people. If I put this country into a mess, I should never be voted by the people. People have the power to give the chair to whoever they want. The aim is not to attain the chair but to make change,” he emphasised.
He also claimed that some government leaders are corrupt and that those in prison justify this.
“Development does not work together with corruption. A leader who stole from the people should be given strict punishment so that no leaders would steal,” he said.
Itula suggests that the people should elect anyone dealing with corruption rather than the president.
This, he said, will ensure such a person investigates corruption independently.
