Martin Endjala
Panduleni Itula, the leader of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), denied that the party expelled its vice president and also refuted rumours regarding such a meeting ever taking place.
This follows reports that suggest that the party’s vice president, Trevino Forbes, who currently serves as the mayor of Walvis Bay, faces possible expulsion after allegedly going on official trips without the town council’s approval.
“We have an unwavering high regard and respect for our vice president and his respect for the Rule of Law. No consideration, complaint, or meeting was ever held in any of the IPC’s organs regarding the unfounded allegations, Itula stated.
Itula explained that IPC members demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility in public office and perform their duties with integrity and accountability, not only to the public but also to those appointing and delegating authority.
He believes that this approach to public service has long been the envy of their political opponents.
According to Itula, the party’s representatives are often the subject of smear campaigns orchestrated by those who have failed the nation for 34 years and are now desperate to cling to power, fearing accountability once they are voted out.
“IPC believes in the rule of law and respects its procedural conduct. Notwithstanding such wishful unsubstantiated untruths about the alleged expulsion of our vice president,” he said.
Itula also reaffirmed that Forbes, along with his team of ten town councillors, will continue to deliver services to the citizens of Walvis Bay and remain the party’s vice president as part of IPC’s government-in-waiting.
Swapo councillor Albertina Nkoshi voiced concerns about the town council’s approval process for mayoral trips during an ordinary council meeting last week, pointing out that the council only received trip recommendations after Forbes had already taken them.
Nkoshi questioned why Forbes’ travel the previous month had prompted the issue being raised.
She described the situation as illegal and insisted on holding the mayor accountable.
The deputy mayor, Saara Mutondoka, also travelled to Russia to attend the BRICS Future Forum from 16 to 20 September.
This trip was arranged by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), and the forum organisers covered the costs for flights, accommodation, and transport.
However, during its meeting on 10 September, the council’s management committee resolved to grant her N$106 000 from the subsistence and travel budget for her international travel.
Forbes denied any wrongdoing, stating that the management committee had condoned his trips.
“My trips were condoned and were not illegal. The trips I take are not personal but for the people of Walvis Bay. I engage with other stakeholders to seek opportunities and funds to help develop our town,” he explained.
Forbes recently returned from a trip to Ethiopia, where he attended a fully sponsored conference on urbanisation and received a daily allowance of N$2 500.
He reported securing N$1 million, funds that Walvis Bay would not have received without such initiatives without the trip.
He said that mayoral trips abroad are essential for Walvis Bay and Namibia because everyone shares responsibility for development, not just the government.
“The thing is, it’s election season, and people will do whatever it takes to tarnish reputations and spread lies. But I remain committed to delivering services to the town and nation for a better future for all,” Forbes said.
A Walvis Bay resident and lawyer, Richard Metcalfe, criticised the state of the town, claiming it is deteriorating like “a decaying fish,” and accused the local government of neglect.
“Its residents are hungry and struggling. A 12% illegal levy is being paid to a debt collector, illegally extracted from residents by the Finance Department. The management ignores its own credit control policy, paying N$2–N$3 million for debt collection each month,” he said.
Metcalfe further expressed his dissatisfaction with the municipality, claiming falsely that it would bring about change while spending money on conferences.
“Another N$106 000 was paid to the deputy mayor for travel. Tell us what this has done for the town. Twaloloka is burning, and nothing is being done. People are scavenging in dustbins for food. There is no functioning refuse collection system, and the town doesn’t even have a truck. That N$106 000 could have been a deposit on a new truck or used to fix the old one,” Metcalfe said.
Former Walvis Bay Rural constituency councillor, Knowledge Ipinge also voiced strong criticism of the current leadership, accusing them of mismanagement and self-enrichment.
“The Walvis Bay Municipality has been turned into a cash cow to sustain the personal lavish lifestyles of the mayor and his coalition cronies, at the expense of hard-working residents and the dejected masses of our people,” Ipinge said.
